France's SNCF hit by nationwide strike, services heavily disrupted

France's national railway company, SNCF, is experiencing its first strike since Jean Castex took office, with widespread disruptions reported on June 10, 2026. The industrial action, called by four representative unions, is significantly impacting TGV, Intercités, and TER services nationwide.

Travelers face considerable inconvenience, with an average of one in three TGV trains and one in two Intercités trains canceled. SNCF is contacting affected customers to offer fee-free exchanges or full refunds. Regional TER services are severely disrupted in many areas, including Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Normandy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Occitanie. In the Île-de-France region, RER and Transilien lines are heavily affected, though the Paris metro and buses are operating normally. Trams T12 and T13 are also experiencing significant slowdowns.

The unions, including CGT Cheminots, Unsa Ferroviaire, Sud-Rail, and CFDT Cheminots, are demanding wage increases to combat inflation and protesting what they describe as a "suffering at all levels of the company." They specifically contest reorganizations related to market opening, particularly for regional lines. The CGT reported a 15.9% increase in workplace accidents between 2024 and 2025, and a 40% rise in "mental health-related sick leave," alongside 13 suicides since the beginning of the year.