Short answer: if your train in France is cancelled because of a strike, you can exchange your ticket or get a full refund without fees, even if it was non-exchangeable and non-refundable. You must make the request yourself on SNCF Connect, because cancellation is not automatic. The list of trains that will run is usually published the day before from 5 pm. If no train suits you, the alternatives are another day, a coach, a rental car or a car with a chauffeur, which does not depend on the train timetable.

Last updated: 5 November 2026. We update the "Current situation" box when new strike dates or forecasts are published.

Train cancelled and you still need to get there? We drive from Paris to cities across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Monaco, 24/7, strike days included, at a fixed price per vehicle, on quote within 2 hours. Message us on WhatsApp, we usually reply within 30 minutes.

Current Situation (5 November 2026)

Latest rail strike: Thursday 5 November 2026, called jointly by the four main rail unions (CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail, CFDT-Cheminots), on a national strike and protest day.
What the SNCF announced: TGV slightly disrupted, Intercités and TER disrupted, and a reduced service on most RER and Transilien lines, with one train in three on the RER D.
Next rail strike: no new date announced at the time of writing. We will add it here as soon as it is confirmed.
What could change: the CGT says the movement will only end with an answer to its demands, the Yellow Vests have called for strikes and blockades on Friday 6 November, and the Prime Minister meets unions and employers on Monday 9 November.

How to Know If Your Train Will Run

In France, rail strikes are announced in advance. Unions file a notice, and since a 2007 law, each rail worker must tell the SNCF at least 48 hours before joining a strike. The SNCF then plans a reduced service and must give passengers reliable information at least 24 hours before the strike starts.

When: the timetable of the strike day is usually published the day before from 5 pm.
Where: the SNCF Connect app and website show, train by train, whether yours is running. If you booked through another website or an agency, check SNCF Connect too, with your booking reference.
How it works: on strike days, the SNCF usually keeps part of the TGV and regional trains and cancels the others. Trains that run are often full.

Your Rights If Your Train Is Cancelled

When a train is cancelled because of a strike, the SNCF waives its exchange and cancellation fees, including for non-exchangeable and non-refundable tickets. According to SNCF Connect:

TGV INOUI and Intercités: free exchange up to 30 minutes after the planned departure time, for a new date within 7 days, or a full refund.
OUIGO: free exchange for another OUIGO train within 7 days, subject to availability, or a refund as a voucher or to your bank account. If you make no choice before 11:30 pm the day before, the trip is cancelled automatically and refunded as a voucher.
TER regional trains: tickets are valid all day, and refundable until midnight the day before departure.
Eurostar: free exchange for another date offered by Eurostar, or a full refund, before departure.

Two points to remember: cancel your ticket yourself if your train is cancelled, because it is not done automatically, and do not scan it at the gate or on board if you want a full refund.

Your hotel, tour or restaurant bookings at the destination are separate: their own conditions apply. If you booked a whole trip through an agency, contact the agency first.

Your Options If No Train Suits You

Change the day

The simplest option when your plans allow it. Strike days are known in advance, so moving a trip by one day is often enough. Free exchanges are limited to 7 days after the original date, and seats on the days around a strike go fast.

Take a coach

Long-distance coaches keep running during rail strikes. They are cheap but slower than trains, and they fill up quickly on strike days, so book as early as you can.

Rent a car

A good option if you are comfortable driving in France. On strike days, roads out of Paris are busier, especially in the morning, and parking in city centres can be hard.

Book a car with a chauffeur

A door-to-door option that does not depend on the train timetable: your chauffeur picks you up at your hotel and drops you at your destination, with your luggage. For a group or a family, the price per vehicle can come close to several train tickets bought at the last minute. Typical driving times from Paris, depending on traffic:

Reims: about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Lille: about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Caen and the Normandy coast: about 2 hours 30 to 3 hours.
Brussels: about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours.
Lyon: about 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours.

Day Trip by Train? Go by Car Instead

Many visitors take the train from Paris for a day in Champagne, Normandy or at Mont-Saint-Michel. On a strike day, a day trip by car avoids the risk of being stuck on the way back. For Champagne, our private Champagne tour leaves from your hotel in Paris for a full day in Reims and Épernay, about 1 hour 30 minutes each way. We can book the Champagne houses for you for a service fee, paid in advance, and you come back to your hotel in the evening, whatever the train timetable. Our guide to a private day in Reims and Épernay gives the details, and our article on day trips from Paris during the protests and strikes covers Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel, Giverny and Versailles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was there a train strike in France on 5 November 2026?

Yes. The four main rail unions called a strike at the SNCF on Thursday 5 November 2026. The SNCF announced a slightly disrupted TGV service and disrupted Intercités, TER and Paris region trains. No new rail strike date had been announced at the time of writing.

Will I get a refund if my train is cancelled by a strike?

Yes. When a train is cancelled because of a strike, the SNCF offers a free exchange or a full refund, including for non-refundable tickets. You must cancel the ticket yourself on SNCF Connect.

When does the SNCF publish its strike timetable?

The SNCF usually publishes the timetable of a strike day the day before from 5 pm, on SNCF Connect.

Is Eurostar affected by SNCF strikes?

Eurostar can be affected by some strikes in France. If your Eurostar is cancelled, you can exchange it free of charge for another date offered by Eurostar or get a full refund. Check Eurostar's own information before you travel.

How can I get from Paris to Reims during a train strike?

By road, Reims is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Paris depending on traffic. A coach, a rental car or a car with a chauffeur are the alternatives to the train on strike days.

Can a private chauffeur take me from Paris to another city during a strike?

Yes. Samantha Travels drives from Paris to cities across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Monaco, 24/7, including on strike days, at a fixed price per vehicle quoted within 2 hours.

Long-Distance Trips with Samantha Travels

When trains are cancelled, our chauffeur service takes you from Paris to your destination in France, Belgium, Switzerland or Monaco, in a Mercedes E-Class or S-Class (up to 3 passengers), a V-Class (up to 7) or a Sprinter for larger groups. The price is fixed per vehicle, on quote sent within 2 hours, and we operate 24/7, strike days included. The evening before, you receive an SMS with your chauffeur's name and number. If you have a flight to catch, see our guide to getting to CDG and Orly during a strike.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup (see our booking terms). Send us your route and date: request your quote or message us on WhatsApp, we usually reply within 30 minutes.

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Train Strike in France: What to Do If Your Train Is Cancelled