Rail passengers along the Côte d’Azur face disruptions on Tuesday 13th January, as French rail operator SNCF confronts a national strike targeting train drivers and ticket inspectors during annual mandatory salary negotiations.
The one-day action by Sud Rail union will likely affect TER Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur services connecting Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and other coastal cities, as well as long-distance TGV connections to Paris and other major French cities.
The strike coincides with the opening of negotiations (NAO) on 13th January and comes despite recent gestures from management under SNCF president Jean Castex, who took office in November 2025. These included a €400 bonus paid in December, extension of social agreements, and projected 2025 profits exceeding €2 billion, including €950 million in the first half.
Sud Rail has dismissed these measures as insufficient “jokes” given workers’ loss of purchasing power, pointing to approximately 13% price increases since 2021. The union is demanding structural salary changes beyond what it characterises as mere “handouts.”
Union demands
Sud Rail is calling for a general increase of €400 per month for all rail workers, estimated to cost €1.2 billion, which the union argues is affordable given company profits. The union also seeks implementation of a 13th-month salary for all rail workers and priority for fixed-sum increases rather than percentage-based raises, to avoid widening pay gaps between different salary levels. The union emphasises its preference for flat-rate increases over simple inflation alignment to reduce wage inequality.
Expected disruptions in PACA region
No detailed service plans have been published yet, though they are expected to become available one day before the strike on SNCF’s website and mobile application. With the strike notice targeting drivers and ticket inspectors, significant disruptions are anticipated.
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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti