Coming out of the shadows where they've been hiding for three
weeks, SNCF's Paris-Lyon high-speed TGVs.
Paris Strikes May be Partly Over, but They are Still Partly On
Public Transport Partially Returns to Paris Region; Will Commuters Adandon New Bikes?
Richard Erickson's Paris Journal - Freelance Correspondent to the Paris Pages
All images copyright (c) December 1995 Richard Erickson - used with permission
Paris Region Monday 18 December -:
RATP Metro: Lines 1, 11, and 13 are reported to be operating at 70 to 100
percent of normal. Lines 3 and 8 are not running at all. The rest of the
lines are supposed to be zipping through the tunnels at about 30 percent of
normal, and this is also the percentage of frequency for the Metro system
as a whole.
RATP Buses: during the day buses are expected to be operating from 15 to 30
percent of normal and this should progressively increase.
The emergency 'Plan Bus' is still in operation. These are the 'substitute'
buses and the 'Batobuses' on the Seine.
RER - Paris' Regional Express Railway - is supposed to be supplying the
Paris region with 50 percent of its capacity. This is very spotty, with
line 'A' running about 95 percent, Line 'B' and Line 'D' running from zero
to 25 percent, and Line 'C' being described as 'poor' in the southwest
(Versailles).
SNCF in Paris region: Going by Paris stations, these are the average
percentages of service: Paris Nord, 25 percent; Paris Est (East), 33
percent: St Lazare, 50 percent; Montparnasse, 25 percent; and Gare de Lyon,
25 percent. Globally, SNCF claims a 50 percent service in the Paris
region.
The sign in the photo of the Metro turnstiles says, 'Free Rides
and Have a Nice Day !
Paris' regional public transport - Metro, bus, RER - is free, so long as
the emergency 'Plan Bus' continues. 'Orange Cards' brought for December are
being extended to January 31. There are either refunds or extensions for
all other multiple ticket holders.
The Information numbers : (available in France only)
- SNCF Paris region, 05 15 24 24 - toll-free
- SNCF national: 05 41 14 11 - toll-free
- RATP: 05 15 11 11 - toll-free, or Minitel: 3615 RATP
- 'Plan Bus': 05 23 52 35 - toll-free
- 'Batobus' Seine Boats, in Paris: 40 58 27 90
At 8:00 radio FIP, 105.1 FM, the radio of beautiful voices, reported
horrible traffic conditions in the Paris region. The details are too sordid
for details, with estimates of three hours to go from Gare du Nord to Porte
de la Chapelle. Traffic within Paris was described as 'thunder hell.'
Normal Monday morning traffic is usually worse than the rest of the week,
but drivers who survive today may give tomorrow a miss - because of
increasing public transport, and because of the demonstration sponsored by
the CGT union, planned for tomorrow.
Road Information, Paris region, Ile-de-France:
Information: 48 49 33 33
Auto-answer: 48 94 33 33
Minitel: 3615 Route
The continuing garbage strike in Bordeaux may have something to do
with the Prime Minister being mayor there.
Nationally, SNCF is running about 50 to 60 percent of normal on long
distance routes. Marseille is still on strike, and there are no trains
running from Toulouse, Montpellier, or Limoges. Service is increasing in
the west with four return trips from Paris to Nantes and Rennes; and 50
percent of normal service to Bordeaux. The Eurostar trains to Brussels and
London are supposed to operating normally.
Airports
Paris region airports have returned to normal service.
Note also that the port of Marseille is shut down and the garbage
collectors are still on strike, in addition to buses, in Bordeaux.
La Poste
A minority of sorting centers are still voting for strike action, so
deliveries are expected to be irregular all this week. Mail your Christmas
cards as soon as you can. In France, cards are usually sent for New Year
instead, so it is not unusual to get cards at the end of January.
I came across a neglected demonstration from yesterday: 2000 art teachers
had a march in Paris, in addition to the doctors.
Return to Richard Erickson's Paris Journal
Updated 12/95
Museum Passes