One-day strike disrupts bus, rail service in France

Rail, bus and tram services were disrupted throughout France on Oct. 4 as part of a nationwide one-day strike to protest the government’s economic and labor policies. Dubbed “Black Tuesday” by the French press, the one-day strike forced the cancellation of 65% of the morning trains at Montparnasse, Paris-Lyon and Paris-North, and disrupted service on all but one of Paris’ Metro lines, according to USA Today. In addition, it was reported that the subway system in Lyon and both the bus and subway systems in Marseille were shut down completely, while only one in four rush-hour buses and three in four trams were operating in southwestern Bourdeaux. The one-day strike also forced organizers of a plenary session of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly to make alternative arrangements, including sending buses all the way from Frankfurt, Germany, to pick up participants.