Over 200,000 vacationers in France scrambled to make substitute travel arrangements for their Christmas holidays&nbsp;after the national train operator announced major service cancellations owing to a strike. 
For the approaching Christmas weekend, when millions of French people are scheduled to travel for family festivities, the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) has so far cancelled more than a third of the scheduled trains. High-speed TGV lines, which are the heart of long-distance train travel in France, were the worst hit services, which caused a surge in flights, rental cars, and carpooling.

"I understand their demands but do they have to go on strike during the festivities?" Isabelle Barrier, whose train to southwestern Toulouse was cancelled, told AFP in Paris.&nbsp;

"They couldn't give a damn about people! If they want to strike, I understand, but not the Christmas weekend!" said Emilio Quintana, a father struggling to find a ticket to Marseille, told AFP.&nbsp;

SNCF's travel division boss Christophe Fanichet apologised to travellers on Wednesday and called the strike action by ticket inspectors -- launched without union backing -- "scandalous" and "unacceptable".

"You don't strike at Christmas," agreed government spokesman Olivier Veran.

<h2>What is the strike for?</h2>

Due to high inflation, ticket inspectors are seeking a pay hike over the previously agreed-upon 12 per cent rise that would take effect over the course of two years, according to the SNCF.

France has an annual inflation rate of about six per cent, which is lower than the rest of other European nations that are also experiencing public sector strikes.

A wave of strikes by nurses, passport checkers, ambulance drivers, and train employees has affected neighbouring Britain.

On important lines like Paris to Bordeaux in the southwest and Paris to Rennes in western France, at least half of the weekend's scheduled trains had been cancelled earlier, according to the SNCF website.

The railway operator&nbsp;offered free re-bookings, including for more expensive seats, but by Wednesday, the majority of TGVs were already completely filled.

Additionally, it promised to issue vouchers to passengers whose trains were cancelled that were worth double the original ticket price.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Over 200,000 vacationers in France scrambled to make substitute travel arrangements for their Christmas holidays after the national train operator announced major service cancellations owing to a strike.

Over 200,000 vacationers in France scrambled to make substitute travel arrangements for their Christmas holidays after the national train operator announced major service cancellations owing to a strike. For the approaching Christmas weekend, when millions of French people are scheduled to travel for family festivities, the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) has so far cancelled more than a third of the scheduled trains. High-speed TGV lines, which are the heart of long-distance train travel in France, were the worst hit services, which caused a surge in flights, rental cars, and carpooling. "I understand their demands but do they have to go on strike during the festivities?" Isabelle Barrier, whose train to southwestern Toulouse was cancelled, told AFP in Paris. "They couldn't give a damn about people! If they want to strike, I understand, but not the Christmas weekend!" said Emilio Quintana, a father struggling to find a ticket to Marseille, told AFP. SNCF's travel division boss Christophe Fanichet apologised to travellers on Wednesday and called the strike action by ticket inspectors -- launched without union backing -- "scandalous" and "unacceptable". "You don't strike at Christmas," agreed government spokesman Olivier Veran. What is the strike for? Due to high inflation, ticket inspectors are seeking a pay hike over the previously agreed-upon 12 per cent rise that would take effect over the course of two years, according to the SNCF. France has an annual inflation rate of about six per cent, which is lower than the rest of other European nations that are also experiencing public sector strikes. A wave of strikes by nurses, passport checkers, ambulance drivers, and train employees has affected neighbouring Britain. On important lines like Paris to Bordeaux in the southwest and Paris to Rennes in western France, at least half of the weekend's scheduled trains had been cancelled earlier, according to the SNCF website. The railway operator offered free re-bookings, including for more expensive seats, but by Wednesday, the majority of TGVs were already completely filled. Additionally, it promised to issue vouchers to passengers whose trains were cancelled that were worth double the original ticket price. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

France rail strikes: High-speed TGV lines cancelled on Christmas weekend as  ticket inspectors seek pay hike

Unions protest in Paris against Macron's pension reform

A strike called by rail worker's entered the third week in Paris as students and civil servants also joined the demonstration against the reforms in country's labour law proposed by President Emmanuel Macron.

The crowd urged against the privatisation of railways as they expressed their anger through lighting up flares and raising slogans against the Macron.

A clash between police and demonstrator also broke out during the protest. Water cannons and tear gas were used by the deployed force to disperse the crowd.

Emmanuel Macron came under fire recently as he made a controversial proposal to privatise its debt-ridden&nbspSNCF railway company.

The state-owned&nbsprailway firm which operates most of the railway network of France is currently on the decline. It is reportedly under dept of €45 billion.

On Tuesday parliament's lower house passed a reform bill&nbspunder which special employment benefits inlcuding job-for life guarantee&nbspand early retirement were scrapped.

A new bill was also designed to tighten France’s immigration and asylum policies.

The strike is continuing from last two weeks and has caused a major disruption to millions of commuters as the rail workers halted the train services.

According to news agency Reuters, just one in three high-speed TGV trains were running and SNCF management saying more than 20 per cent of staff stopped its work.

On Thursday as well a protest march was called. The General Confederation of Labour Union reportedly said that 300,000 people demonstrated across the country. However, the Interior Ministry put the figure at 119,500.&nbsp

The police reportedly counted 11,500 marchers in Paris.

Media reports say that the protests can continue tithe ll end of June.

The crowd urged against the privatisation of railways as they expressed their anger through lighting up flares and raising slogans against the Macron

A strike called by rail worker's entered the third week in Paris as students and civil servants also joined the demonstration against the reforms in country's labour law proposed by President Emmanuel Macron. The crowd urged against the privatisation of railways as they expressed their anger through lighting up flares and raising slogans against the Macron. A clash between police and demonstrator also broke out during the protest. Water cannons and tear gas were used by the deployed force to disperse the crowd. Emmanuel Macron came under fire recently as he made a controversial proposal to privatise its debt-ridden&nbspSNCF railway company. The state-owned&nbsprailway firm which operates most of the railway network of France is currently on the decline. It is reportedly under dept of €45 billion. On Tuesday parliament's lower house passed a reform bill&nbspunder which special employment benefits inlcuding job-for life guarantee&nbspand early retirement were scrapped. A new bill was also designed to tighten France’s immigration and asylum policies. The strike is continuing from last two weeks and has caused a major disruption to millions of commuters as the rail workers halted the train services. According to news agency Reuters, just one in three high-speed TGV trains were running and SNCF management saying more than 20 per cent of staff stopped its work. On Thursday as well a protest march was called. The General Confederation of Labour Union reportedly said that 300,000 people demonstrated across the country. However, the Interior Ministry put the figure at 119,500. The police reportedly counted 11,500 marchers in Paris. Media reports say that the protests can continue tithe ll end of June.

Paris: Railway workers' strike against railway reforms enters third week, millions of commuters affected

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France rail strikes: High-speed TGV lines cancelled on Christmas weekend as ticket inspectors seek pay hike

Unions protest in Paris against Macron's pension reform

Paris: Railway workers' strike against railway reforms enters third week, millions of commuters affected