Avoiding Stressful Journeys during May Strike: Exploring Travel Alternatives
Gearing up for May 8, rail chaos is on the horizon: another SNCF strike may interfere with travel plans during the spring break. If your train journeys get cancelled or are uncertain, check out these hassle-free alternatives for a stress-free vacation.
© our website / Freepik By Alan Calvez General News Journalist our website.fr Published on
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Possible speed bumps to the strike? May will be marked by the typical May Day holidays, as well as several SNCF strike notices. Railway workers' unions are calling on employees to organize protests amid a standoff with management. An unusually chaotic holiday in rail transport looms: that of May 8. CGT is advocating for coordinated mobilization of drivers (ADC) and on-board commercial agents (ASCT) from May 5. On the other hand, Sud-Rail is specifically encouraging drivers to mobilize on May 7, the eve of the holiday.
The general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, has hinted at a possible suspension of the strike notice if the demands are "satisfied" by then. "We can avoid this by negotiating. I invite the SNCF management to negotiate immediately with the trade unions", she declared on LCI on April 27. A few days earlier, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, expressed frustration that "some unions do not seem to want to seek resolution".
What does French law say about limits on the right to strike in transport? ## Buses: a popular option for the May 8 weekend
Confronted by possible SNCF service disruptions, several alternatives can save the day when your train is cancelled. One of the most popular options: the bus! Contacted by our website, the bus division of the German company Flix reported a 45% surge in reservations for the May 8 weekend, compared to the same period in 2024. Regions like Normandy, Brittany, and Occitanie are already recording high demand.
Although buses are generally a cheaper means of transportation compared to trains, FlixBus advises those who haven't booked their ticket to book soon. The site operates a "dynamic pricing" system, which means that prices increase with demand. For example, a Paris-Marseille ride on Thursday, May 8, with a departure at 9:05 am and an arrival at 8:30 pm, is priced at 143.99 euros. If you want to spend a weekend in the South-West from Brittany, a Rennes-Bordeaux ride, with a departure at 8:30 am and an arrival at 2:15 pm, is offered at 53.99 euros.
Discover the new destinations served by OUIGO trains ## Options galore in case of an SNCF strike
A similar increase in reservations is also observed on the BlaBlaCar side, a carpooling solution that also offers bus trips. BlaBlaCar bus reservations for the May 8 weekend have tripled on certain axes compared to last year, particularly on the Paris-Marseille and Paris-Nice routes. BlaBlaCar intends to mobilize around 300 buses, or even 400 depending on demand. Carpooling searches have also increased, according to BlaBlaCar. "With every disruption, the platform observes a surge of 30 to 50% in the number of trips taken", remarks BlaBlaCar.
If you still prefer the train, there's hope. While Trenitalia aims for Paris-London in the coming years, the first competitor to SNCF already covers many French destinations: from Paris to Lyon, via Chambéry. Will ticket sales skyrocket? Not exactly, according to the Italian operator. "For extended weekends affected by SNCF strike notices, reservations are naturally higher than typical. This year, the increase does not appear abnormal compared to previous years", bolsters Trenitalia.
Discover the new destinations served by OUIGO trains Domestic flights are also an option, although air traffic within France is particularly CO2-polluting (4.8 million tonnes in 2019, equating to 4% of transport sector emissions). About a week ago, the travel comparator Kayak revealed the top 10 most searched French destinations on its platform during the May bank holidays. Among the most searched domestic flights, Kayak highlights Nice, Marseille, and Paris among the top choices.
Related articles* SNCF strike* SNCF* Transport
- Amid the upcoming SNCF strike, railway workers' unions like CGT and Sud-Rail are encouraging coordinated mobilization from May 5 and May 7, which could disrupt travel plans during the spring break, especially May 8.
- The CGT general secretary, Sophie Binet, has hinted at a possible suspension of the strike notice if management satisfactorily addresses their demands. She urges the SNCF management to negotiate immediately with the trade unions.
- As a hassle-free alternative during potential rail disruptions, FlixBus, a popular bus service provider, has reported a 45% surge in reservations for the May 8 weekend, with regions like Normandy, Brittany, and Occitanie already recording high demand.
- In the event of an SNCF strike, BlaBlaCar carpooling and bus services have tripled reservations on certain axes compared to last year, particularly on the Paris-Marseille and Paris-Nice routes, with the platform aiming to mobilize around 300-400 buses depending on demand.
