Effect of Strikes on travel
Discussion
We are driving through France next Thursday and see it is set as another day of "National Strike". Mostly this effects public transport, services, trains, air traffic etc - but I have had experience when lorries have blocked motorways and taxis made roundabout impassable. Does anyone have any experience of what happened last week and any thoughts for this? Traveling Calais - Orleans - Perpignan and will stop overnight somewhere. Not sure whether to go via Paris or Rouen. Any thoughts? All help/advice appreciated
I am in the Loire valley and it is pretty bad here, no diesel, or 98 octane, only limited supplies of 95, but only €30 worth.
However our clients who arrived on Saturday, said that the pumps on the Autoroutes all had fuel, albeit at much higher prices. As ever the problem is that fuel that used to be at the pumps is now sat in car fuel tanks.
According to Hollande, it will not be allowed to bring France to a standstill, but in reality, 4, of 8 refineries are blockaded, so without troops being brought in, it is hard to see things changing any time soon.
He also has said he will never back down on his modest employment reforms.
However our clients who arrived on Saturday, said that the pumps on the Autoroutes all had fuel, albeit at much higher prices. As ever the problem is that fuel that used to be at the pumps is now sat in car fuel tanks.
According to Hollande, it will not be allowed to bring France to a standstill, but in reality, 4, of 8 refineries are blockaded, so without troops being brought in, it is hard to see things changing any time soon.
He also has said he will never back down on his modest employment reforms.
There's a map here: https://mon-essence.fr/blog/2016/05/19/penurie-de-... that is fed by a smartphone app and should be up to date. The commercial rep community here are good at this sort of thing. The site is very oversubscribed and I've only managed to download it once, but if you have success, you can click on a station icon and it tells you if they have fuel or not.
It seems that the branded garages mostly have fuel whereas the supermarkets do not.
Steve
It seems that the branded garages mostly have fuel whereas the supermarkets do not.
Steve
Here's a town by town page showing supply shortages. Unfortunately it doesn't mean that a station not on the list will definitely have fuel........
https://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/list/
Steve
https://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/list/
Steve
I filled up today, no problem. Apparently the CRS went into a refinery with tear gas last night and reopened the place. I am pretty certain that it will not be allowed to get out of hand.
I joined a queue of 5 cars this morning at 8:55, every car contained a mum who had just dropped their kid at school. The first woman got in and out of the car 3-times before actually filling her car. Once complete, she got back in and obviously texted her mates to let them know she was back in business. Everyone else can wait.
Liberte, egalite, fraternite - Viva La France
A lot of fuel stations between Menton and Nice yesterday had ran out/had massive queues, but strangely the Total just outside Eze was almost empty and had all fuels in stock: 95 E10 was only 1.27 as well. I've noticed some of the smaller independents putting their prices up to capitalise: one outside Nice was 1.60 or something ridiculous like that.
We are travelling to the Dordogne Friday Night/Saturday Morning we will be brimming in Dover but can't quite make it on one tank. Would it be fair to say that Motorway Services are likely to be OK but smaller supermarkets won't be? I assume it hasn't led to flaming Tires in the autoroutes yet?
The strikers have closed the A20 both ways in the Limousan both ways today . In Confolens (16500) people have been getting some fuel but it's rationed and only from total garage not the intermarche although they may have had a delivery by now.
I can't tell you to not come,but buy the fuel when you can.
I can't tell you to not come,but buy the fuel when you can.
Hmm not good news, 2000 mile round trip to Provence in 3 weeks time with a car which only likes super unleaded. Hope they come to an agreement asap for everyone as it will take time to replenish stocks.
Surely what with football, Le Mans and holiday season they realise the effect this will have on their tourist industry.
Surely what with football, Le Mans and holiday season they realise the effect this will have on their tourist industry.
.......But the reality is that we drove to the market, as usual, this morning and filled the car at LeClerc without any queues. All the Autoroute stations have had fuel as they have priority. 80% of stations have fuel, 75% nuclear power generation is working.
The CGT have chosen the wrong time of year to make an impact. The country still has emergency powers in force since last November, so they have plenty of wiggle room to break the strike, strikers will also soon be wanting holiday money.
The images we saw on the BBC last night do not represent life here in the Loire Valley.
The only real precaution is just to be vigilant and plan ahead.
The CGT have chosen the wrong time of year to make an impact. The country still has emergency powers in force since last November, so they have plenty of wiggle room to break the strike, strikers will also soon be wanting holiday money.
The images we saw on the BBC last night do not represent life here in the Loire Valley.
The only real precaution is just to be vigilant and plan ahead.
t and say how it is on the ground - for those who are planning on coming over in the next few days / weeks. Very grateful. Gassing Station | France | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff