Train strike holds France in its grip

French commuters have had their journeys disrupted by striking railway workers. Four trade unions worried about the privatisation of the national rail company SNCF began a stoppage at 8pm on Monday evening.

The strike is indefinite and can be extended by the unions. However, initially it is expected to last only 24 hours. International services like the Eurostar will not be affected. There will be a minimum service in and around Paris while about half of the high speed inter-urban TGVs will be running. France is pursuing a privatisation programme to shore up its public finances. But the government says there are no plans to privatise the SNCF.

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