Practical information > Call for a strike (Wednesday 10 September)

Update on the call for a strike in France on September 10^th

Monday 8 September 2025

The French national train company (SNCF) announced today that train traffic will be largely normal on the 10th. Fast trains (TGVs) will run normally (including TGVs coming from other countries). Some disruptions are expected on local lines (TER trains), but trains will still run on those lines. For example, all the TER trains between Nantes and Tours are maintained. Between Le Mans and Tours, three direct TER trains have been canceled, but four will be running, plus several more with one or two changes. To know whether your train is maintained or not, you can simulate your journey on SNCFConnect. 

Also, metro traffic in Paris is expected to be normal. This is important for those of you who must change train stations there.

Some disruptions are expected for the metro line between Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris (the so-called RER B). Details on the frequency of RER B trains have not been released yet, but taking a taxi or a Uber is an alternative.

All in all, it looks like the impact of the strike will be relatively limited.

Saturday 6 September 2025

Here are some answers to some of your questions concerning the strike on September 10^th:

First of all, we would like to reassure you by saying that there will be trains during the day, just not all the trains regularly scheduled. Expect delays, though. The official app from the train company is SNCFConnect. You can find up-to-date information about train departures there.

If you have a train ticket you should be informed 48h before your traveling day whether or not your train has been canceled or delayed (by text or email). You may be rebooked automatically on another train. If no rebooking is offered, you can board any train going to the same destination as the original train (at no extra cost).

We recommend that once you arrive in France (e.g., Paris or Nantes) you should proceed directly to the train station where trains depart for Tours (Montparnasse train station in Paris or Nantes train station). There, you’ll see the list of trains going to Tours and you can talk to an official about your journey. 

On September 8th the national railway company will announce its train traffic forecasts for September 10th. We should have a better idea of how impactful the strike will be then.

An alternative to the train is the bus, for example BlaBlaCar bus or Flexibus. It is not clear at this point whether this is a better option, as road and toll blockades are announced. Renting a car or traveling via carpooling is another option, but again blockades will slow you down.

Taking a Uber or a taxi to Tours from Paris is insanely expensive. We don't recommend it.

Please note that we can't organize alternative transportation to Tours from Paris ourselves.

We also checked with our university and unfortunately refunds will not be possible should you miss the conference because of the strike. We’re very sorry about this.  

You will need a good deal of patience for your journey, but you’ll make it to Tours eventually. Once in Tours, come and have a drink with us at the Vieux Mûrier on Place Plumereau to relax !

We wish you all the best,

The GALA 2025 Organization Committee

Tuesday 2 September 2025

Dear GALA participants,

A call for a strike has been launched in France for September 10^th, when most of you will be traveling to Tours.

We're monitoring the situation very closely.

It's difficult to know exactly what's going to happen at this point, especially because the government recently called for a vote of confidence at the parliament on September 8th. There is a high chance that the vote will go against the government, which means that the government will fall. As the call for a strike is a movement against the current government (and especially its proposed budget for next year), it is unclear what will happen if the government falls. 

Another element of uncertainty as to what will happen on September 10th is that the call for a strike is a citizen movement. Unions have started to position themselves with respect to this call, but we don't have the full picture yet. It looks like trains will be affected, meaning that some of your trains may be cancelled or delayed. In case of a cancelation, note that travelers are allowed to board any other train going to the same destination as their original trains. This should generate delays however. But again, depending on the results of the vote on September 8th, the strike may be more or less impactful. 

One way to avoid this uncertainty is to travel on September 9th, although we realize that this may not be possible for all of you. We don’t urge any participants who cannot change their travel plans to cancel their trips, however, as we don’t know yet what will happen.

This is what we can say given the situation today. We'll keep you informed about any substantial development. 

We’re so sorry about this!!

Please do not hesitate to contact us, should you need assistance.

The GALA 2025 Organization Committee