Strikes in Paris area affecting up to 40% of freight trains

Rail freight in the Paris area has been dealing with strikes from signalmen working for the French infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau since the beginning of April. “Up to 40% of freight trains may have experienced significant changes to their timetables or routes on particularly disrupted days”, the three main industry associations in France lamented. On the other hand, the striking workers are pointing out how conditions are no longer tolerable after massive job cuts.
The industrial action started on 7 April 2025 and is mostly affecting the northern area of the French capital. The section linking Villemomble, Le Bourget and Bobigny is the most affected and it is damaging rail freight as it is a vital artery serving both the north-south and east-west axes. The three associations stressing the impact of these initiatives are AFRA, Alliance 4F and GNTC.

Why are the strikes happening?

The ongoing strikes have been launched by the members of the Paris Nord section of trade union SUD-Rail working at the Le Bourget freight yard. The main bone of contention concerns job cuts, specifically among the signalmen in Villemomble. “This position is essential to managing the more than 2,500 freight trains that pass through this section each month”, the trade union highlighted.

Significant reductions in the workforce, the trade union argues, puts rail traffic management at risk and decreases rail safety. This initiative has already led to direct negative consequences for the sector in Paris. “Hexafret (France’s new state-owned operator, ndr) has announced it will reduce its workload across the entire Le Bourget yard”, SUD Rail stated.

The industrial action led by SUD-Rail found support from radical social movements including the French section of Extinction Rebellion and Les Soulèvements de la Terre.

Industry voices are not pleased

“This movement, led by a local branch of a single union, is irresponsible in such a strategic sector for freight activity,” denounced Alexandre Gallo, president of AFRA and head of DB Cargo France. GNTC’s leader Rémy Crochet underlined how the situation is unbearable for rail customers. The president of Alliance 4F Raphaël Doutrebente added that things might remain heated, as the workers striking are now asking for an additional bonus in the negotiations.