Where to check RATP lines before you travel

RATP publishes real-time status for all its lines - 14 metro lines, RER, Transilien, tram and bus - on its official info-trafic page, which lets you select an individual line for its current status rather than a vague network-wide summary. During a strike or other disruption, the same page directs users to "consult the latest traffic forecasts below," meaning the line-level breakdown is the actual source of truth, not a general statement that a strike is happening. RATP's own mobile app carries the same real-time alerts if you'd rather check on the move.

Where to check SNCF and TER trains

For national and regional trains, SNCF Connect's disruption information page explains how the company communicates affected services: passengers are contacted by email, SMS or phone when their specific train is affected, and the same page recommends checking real-time traffic information before heading to the station. For TER regional trains specifically, advance notice of disruption is typically posted "the evening before, from 17:00," which gives a reliable window for checking the night before a regional trip.

Strikes affecting French public services, including transport, are governed by a legal notice requirement rather than being called with no warning. Under article L. 2512-2 of the French Labour Code, a minimum of five full days must pass between the filing of a strike notice (préavis de grève) and the strike itself, with a mandatory negotiation period built into that window. Separate transport-specific rules also require individual rail and transit workers to declare their intent to strike at least 48 hours ahead, which is part of why operators can publish next-day service forecasts with some confidence even during a strike.

What a reduced-service day actually looks like

A framework for continuity of service in ground transport - built on the 2007 law on social dialogue and continuity of public service in land transport - means a strike day is not typically a total shutdown across every line. In practice this shows up as some lines running close to their normal schedule while others run at sharply reduced frequency or stop entirely for parts of the day, which is exactly why checking your specific line on the operator's page matters more than checking whether "the metro is on strike" as a single yes-or-no question.

Refund and rebooking rights if your train is cancelled

If your train is cancelled or significantly disrupted, SNCF Connect's own policy sets out different terms by train type. TGV INOUI, Intercités and cross-border TGV tickets can typically be exchanged free of charge up to 30 minutes after the original scheduled departure, or exchanged for travel up to seven days after the original date at the same stations; a full refund is available but is not processed automatically, so you need to request it. OUIGO tickets can be exchanged free within seven days of the original date, or refunded to a voucher or bank account. TER regional tickets remain valid for use anywhere on the same route for the rest of the day if your specific train is disrupted, and refunds are available up until midnight the day before the original departure.

Your fallback when the line you need is down

When your usual metro or RER line is reduced or suspended, RATP's info-trafic page and app typically surface alternative routing suggestions alongside the disruption notice, and both RATP and SNCF Connect promote bike and scooter options as a practical alternative for shorter hops during major disruptions. For a longer cross-city trip, checking two or three alternative lines on the same real-time page - rather than assuming a single rerouted path - is worth the extra minute, since reduced-frequency lines can also mean much longer waits even when technically running.

What this guide does not cover

This guide covers only the practical steps for checking and responding to a strike - it does not explain why French transport strikes happen, how frequently they occur, or the broader labor and political context behind them, which is a separate subject from the logistics covered here.