France is preparing for a major day of protest. For Thursday 5 November 2026 four rail unions – CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots – have called a strike at SNCF. On the same day there will be a nationwide strike and demonstration across many sectors. CGT leader Sophie Binet has called for strikes in all workplaces from 5 November.
The strike could affect TGV, Intercités and TER trains nationwide, as well as – in the Paris region – RER and Transilien lines operated by SNCF. The scale of disruption is not yet known. As of 23 October no separate strike had been announced for the RATP metro. SNCF usually publishes exact timetables on the evening before a strike, i.e. 4 November.
Rail workers are demanding, among other things, a general pay rise, higher allowances, reform of the housing allowance and a “13th month” bonus for all staff. They point to rising energy and food prices. A meeting between the unions and SNCF management on purchasing power is scheduled for 3 November – if it produces concrete decisions, the strike call may change.
The strike is the next stage in a wave of protests. On Saturday 24 October hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Paris, and there were clashes with police in other cities too.
What it means for you
- Travellers from the UK and Poland: if you are travelling through France by train on 5 or 6 November, expect cancelled services and crowded stations.
- Eurostar: sources do not mention a strike at Eurostar, but connections to SNCF trains in Paris and Lille may be disrupted.
- Transport firms and exporters: demonstrations may slow traffic in cities and deliveries on the day of the strike.
Our assessment
This will not be a one-day curiosity. The unions are combining the rail strike with a nationwide pay protest, and tension on the streets is high. We expect real disruption on Thursday 5 November unless the talks on 3 November bring concessions.
What to do
- Check your train on SNCF Connect on the evening of 4 November.
- Travelling by Eurostar? Follow updates on eurostar.com.
- Current advice for travellers: GOV.UK – France travel advice.
- If you can, move business travel to another day.
More on this topic: France: riots after protests, government announces curfew.
Source: Sortiraparis, “SNCF strike on November 5, 2026 – the latest updates” (updated 23.10.2026); Euronews (24.10.2026).
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