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One-day strike disrupts railway traffic in France

Xinhua, April 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Trains in France stopped operating on Tuesday as staff members protested against work conditions and a reform to open the rail passenger sector to full competition.

In a communique posted on its website, the state-owned railway company SNCF said 23.9 percent of the company's railway workers stopped working. Unions reported that 50 percent of railway personnel joined the strike.

The strike, from Monday evening to Wednesday morning, means about one high-speed TGV out of two will run, and one regional train out of three will carry passengers.

The SNCF said it expected a gradual return to normal on Wednesday.

"For the moment, this is just a massive warning strike. It's necessary that negotiations resume," said Philippe Martinez, head of CGT labor union.

Further train strikes have been scheduled to take place during the upcoming UEFA Euro 2016 football championship in June, according to Martinez. Endit