While the debate on pension reform continues to ignite, Parisian transport should be paralyzed this Thursday, January 19.
The RATP and SNCF unions are on the front line to protest against the reforms proposed by the Government.
During this day of action, the metro lines, RER, buses and trams of Ile-de-France are therefore likely to be heavily affected. With a range of protests planned for what has been dubbed ‘Black Thursday’ in Paris, what should commuters really expect? LJG takes stock for you.
Overview of the pension reform and its impact on Paris transport
The pension reform is one of the main reforms announced by the Government for this year 2023.
She proposes to set up a universal points system, instead of the current 42 different systems which make distinctions according to age and profession.
This reform is not unanimous and the main trade union organizations have launched a call to strike for this Thursday, January 19. This Thursday is therefore likely to be a black day in Ile-de-France transport.
On the Paris transport network, only essential services should be preserved.
The impact could be significant if the unions respect their calls for mobilization: metro lines, RERs, buses and trams could be affected all day between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. Users will have no choice but to travel in degraded conditions or to seek alternative solutions.
Although the public transport network is likely to be affected, it will not necessarily be paralyzed. In order to find out in advance which services might still be in place, users should go to the websites of the network operators.
RATP and SNCF have already informed the public of their plans for this day of action and announced a significant reduction in service on certain lines.
What can users expect from “Black Thursday” in Paris?
“Black Thursday” could be a nightmare for travelers to the Paris region. To best prepare for this day, users should refer to the official sites of transport operators and seek alternative solutions if necessary.
On this day, users will inevitably have to look for alternatives such as:
- carpooling,
- The bike (but be careful, the Vélib’ terminals risk being taken by storm)
- VTC services like Uber or Kapten.
It remains to be seen whether the mobilizations will actually lead to a disruption of transport on January 19…
