French rail, energy strikes

French railway and energy workers kept up the pressure on President Jacques Chirac's government yesterday with strikes over working conditions that halted most trains and cut electricity output.

Hospital surgeons also downed their scalpels on the second of three days of stoppages signalling discontent with the conservative government as it prepares to relax the 35-hour work week introduced by the previous Socialist-led administration.

Commuters were left with just one intercity train running in four, one high-speed TGV in three and only 16-30 per cent of suburban trains in the Paris area, railway operator SNCF said. The Eurostar link with Britain was not affected.

For the first time, SNCF posted lists in newspapers ahead of the strike detailing which trains it expected to run in a bid to minimise the disruption to commuters - with mixed results.

"My train wasn't late and it wasn't too crowded either. People seem to have anticipated the strike," said Alisee Lesobre, 18, a worker at a fast-food restaurant.

But model Jonathan Dufaux faced a three-hour wait for his train at the Gare du Nord, the capital's main train station.

"So now I'll miss my photo shoot," he sighed. Some 37 per cent of railway workers took part in the strike, according to SNCF. The leading CGT union put the figure at 40 per cent.

"This is a slap in the face for the government and ultra-liberals who did nothing but criticise this strike," said Didier Le Reste, head of CGT's railway division.

Unions were protesting against the SNCF's 2005 budget, approved yesterday, which includes plans to lay off 3,600 members of staff. They are also worried about government plans to guarantee a minimum service during transport strikes.