SNCF strike on May 8: here are some alternatives for a weekend getaway with peace of mind

A "black week" is looming on SNCF trains and stations. Three categories of railway workers have filed strike notices for the period from May 6 to 10, right in the middle of departures for the May 8 bank holiday.

The CGT and Sud-Rail unions have called on ticket inspectors, drivers, and equipment operators to go on strike. Traffic disruptions are expected to begin this Monday. This is expected to last the rest of the week and the weekend, and perhaps even beyond.

Initially, Sud-Rail had filed a notice of strike action for all weekends from April 17 to June 2 , from Thursday 7 p.m. to Monday 8 a.m. In addition to the May 8 weekend, the Ascension weekend could therefore be affected (Thursday, May 29, a public holiday). And perhaps even the Whitsun weekend (Monday, June 9, a public holiday).

As a precaution, you may choose to travel to your destination by means other than SNCF trains. RMC Conso has selected a few alternative routes from Paris. They're neither more expensive nor too long.

For a sunny getaway, you might want to head to the South of France, ideally to the seaside. The best way to do this is often to hop on a Paris-Marseille flight: in 3 hours and 20 minutes, you'll be in the Phocaean city.

Currently, only SNCF allows this, with 26 journeys per day. Soon it will be joined by Trenitalia, which has announced it will launch on this line . However, starting from June 15.

For your May bank holidays, you'll need to find an alternative, such as the bus. Flixbus operates from Paris to Marseille. But you'll need to be patient: the journey takes 10 to 12 hours, but the price is reasonable (around 100 euros).

There is another option, just as Mediterranean, and accessible with high-speed trains other than the SNCF TGV: Montpellier, Sète, Narbonne... All these towns on the Amethyst Coast can be reached from Paris with other companies .

For a one-way ticket on May 8th, first take a Paris-Lyon train with Trenitalia. This Friday, May 2nd, the 7:29 a.m. train was priced at 89 euros. Once at Lyon Part-Dieu station, you can take the Renfe AVE, which departs from the same station at 2:35 p.m. For just 22 euros, it will take you to Montpellier, from where you can easily reach the sea by public transport.

For 111 euros, you can reach the South. A very reasonable price, especially just a few days before departure. On this route, TGV trains often exceed 180 euros without a discount card. And despite this price, you're still not immune to possible strikes...

During periods of industrial action, Eurostar trains may experience some disruptions. However, they are generally relatively unaffected. Planning a getaway with this company may therefore be a solution.

Especially since 2023, Eurostar also includes destinations that were served by Thalys . So you can still board for London, but also Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp, Liège), the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Rotterdam) or Germany.

All these new Eurostar destinations aren't that expensive, unlike the London routes , which are often criticized for their excessive prices . So let's try it for Ascension Day weekend. With a departure on Wednesday, May 28, Brussels can be reached for just €59 (departure at 9:55 p.m.).

For Germany and Cologne, for example, expect to pay an average of around 100 euros for a one-way ticket. A small sum, certainly, but still much less than the Paris-London fare, which costs an average of 200 euros.

Of course, the advantages of the train, provided it runs, are its speed, convenience, and environmental friendliness. It's understandable that it's preferred to the bus, especially over long distances or for a long weekend.

However, when traffic conditions are disrupted, the journey can become an ordeal. In this case, why not give up a little on comfort and agree to take a bus or carpool ? For destinations not too far away, like Normandy or Brittany, this can be an excellent compromise.

First, there's a pretty wide range of options for these destinations. Take a Paris-Rennes flight on Thursday, May 8, for example. In the morning, you have a choice of three departures: two with BlaBlaCar Bus (9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.) and one with FlixBus (8:45 a.m.). The journey will be longer than by train (5 hours versus 1.5 hours), but you'll still arrive in time to enjoy a sausage galette.

But above all, the bus is less in demand than the train. Especially on this route to Brittany, which is often congested. Indeed, several TGV trains are already full, and the others are relatively expensive. Add to that the disruptions caused by the strike...

According to the comparison site Trainline (you can also use Omio or Kombo), by bus, you'll pay around forty euros . Or even 27 euros if you agree to leave at 12:30 p.m. (and arrive at 5 p.m.). For this price, you can still accept having a little less legroom...

Why not try two of the above tips to reach the Alps? It couldn't be simpler. So, start by approaching by train, boarding a Trenitalia to Lyon.

Once there, in the event of a strike, you may not be able to rely on the TER trains, which are often canceled during industrial action. However, buses from the companies mentioned above will still be running. They serve cities like Grenoble and Chambéry from Lyon, gateways to the peaks (perhaps less snowy in May).

To reach even higher altitudes, it will be necessary to pass the torch to public service. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has a fairly extensive coach network. These "Cars Région" serve many villages from Grenoble or Chambéry . And at prices that are far from excessive .