Bonjour depuis la République du “ça dépend” 🇫🇷 — also known as strike day. Here’s your friendly, belly-patting, baguette-toting guide to Aix-en-Provence when the country collectively presses snooze.
The very short version
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Trains (TGV/TER): Expect significant disruption; details usually drop the day before. Plan Bs highly recommended. (ladepeche.fr)
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Regional TER/ZOU!: Same story; the PACA page posts updates close to the event. Check again on the 17th/18th. (SNCF)
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Local buses (Aix en Bus / Métropole Mobilité): Service may run reduced or spotty. Final info appears late and can vary by line—refresh the traffic pages. (Aixenbus)
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Flights (Marseille MRS): Good news—the air-traffic-controller strike for the 18th is suspended (postponed to early October). Still, always verify your specific flight. (TourMaG)
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Schools & crèches: Some closures/limited services possible. Pack extra patience (and snacks). (TF1 INFO)
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Pharmacies: Many may be closed for the day. Don’t wait until Thursday to buy paracetamol. (ladepeche.fr)
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Energy sector (EDF/GDF): Industrial action is planned (Wed 21:00 → Thu 21:00). Lights should stay on, but customer services/operations can be affected. (RMC)
What this means on the ground in Aix
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Aix TGV ↔ Centre-ville: Trains might be thinned; the airport/TGV shuttles and local buses can be reduced or re-routed. Check Aix en Bus “Perturbations” and La Métropole Mobilité “Infos trafic” the morning of. Screens at stops usually update too (when they’ve had their coffee). (Aixenbus)
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Inside the city: The Aixpress (line A) and core lines often run at reduced frequency rather than not at all—but don’t bet your croissant on it without checking. (Aixenbus)
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Regional hops (TER/ZOU!) to Marseille/Avignon/Arles: verify on the official TER Sud “Grève” page; they post day-by-day plans. (SNCF)
Handy links to check day-of (bookmark now)
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National overview / sectors impacted (18 Sept): good snapshot of who’s in and who’s out. (ladepeche.fr)
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SNCF/TGV/Intercités forecast timing: “prévisions de trafic” published shortly before strike day. (Linternaute.com)
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TER Sud PACA (trains & ZOU! rail): strike updates for our region. (SNCF)
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Aix en Bus – Perturbations and Métropole Mobilité – Infos trafic: last-minute bus changes. (Aixenbus)
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Air-traffic controllers (status for 18 Sept = suspended; next dates in Oct): (TourMaG)
Survival kit (Provençal edition)
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Leave early. Then add an espresso buffer. (Two if it’s raining.)
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Apps ready: SNCF Connect, Métropole Mobilité, and your airline app.
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Plan B: Walk more—Aix is compact; taxis/VTC fill the gaps.
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Plan C: A terrace table + “un allongé, s’il vous plaît” while you reroute your day.
Polite strike-day phrases (to avoid going full “grumpy tourist”)
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« Bonjour ! Le bus passe aujourd’hui ou il est perturbé ? »
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« Savez-vous si la navette pour la gare TGV circule ? »
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« Je peux annuler/échanger ce billet à cause de la grève ? »
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« Bon courage à vous ! » (Magic words. Use liberally.)
A note on demos & noise
Over 200 gatherings are expected nationwide; if you bump into a march in Aix or nearby Marseille, enjoy the civics lesson and take the scenic detour. (Rapports de Force)
If you’re Aixois(e) reading this and thinking “mais oui, c’est la base,” merci for your patience with us enthusiastic élèves. If you’re a fellow learner: breathe, smile, and remember—every grève is an advanced listening exercise with real-world vocabulary and extra gesturing.
Add your tips or today’s mini-victory in the comments: which lines ran, which cafés saved your morning, and your best bon courage moment.