Strike cripples French railways

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21 November 2005, 20:56 GMT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strike

cripples French railways

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commuters were

forced to fight for space on the last trains

 

 

 

Rail

workers in France have begun a national strike,

crippling the rail network for at least 24 hours.

As many as two-thirds of trains stopped running as commuters

tried return home on Monday night.

Unions are striking to protest against any privatization

of the rail network, despite government assurances.

Disruption to commuter and high-speed services will continue

until Tuesday evening, but the strike could

last for an indefinite period.

Many commuters left Paris early on Monday, but

others were left to squeeze onto scarce trains or wait for buses in cold

winter weather.

Transport minister Dominique Perben earlier wrote to unions

trying to re-assure them that the national rail network, SNCF, would not be

sold off.

" I put in black and white what I have said on several

occasions over the last 10 days: there is no plan for the privatization of

SNCF, " the minister said.

But the Force Ouvriere union, which represents rail workers,

said Mr Perben's letter was not enough.

The union said it expected 70% to 80% of France's 165,000 rail

workers to participate in the strike.

Only 40% of high-speed TGV services were thought to be running,

and international connections were also hit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4458266.stm

 

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