As you know, for several weeks now, high school students, college students, and teachers have been participating in a major social protest to make their voices heard in the face of current conditions. After demonstrating on November 5 in the streets of Paris and throughout France, another protest is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10. Route, transportation disruptions, curfew… Here’s what we know.
November 10 demonstration: What is the route?
For now, the police headquarters has not yet approved the march route. Student organizations have proposed a 2:00 p.m. start at Place de la Bastille, followed by a march through Gare de Lyon and Gare d’Austerlitz, ending at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital.
The police prefecture has the right to approve, modify, or reject this route in favor of a stationary gathering or, in the worst-case scenario… a ban if it deems it necessary to ensure safety. Similarly, no curfew has been announced at this time should the demonstration run late.
Which stations are likely to experience disruptions this Tuesday, November 10?
Although no strike calls have been issued for the RATP or the SNCF, your travel plans may be slightly disrupted. In fact, stations near the march route could be closed for much of the afternoon. These include Bastille (affecting lines 1, 5, and 8), Austerlitz Station (affecting lines 5, 10, and RER C), Gare de Lyon (served by lines 1, 14, RER A, and D), and Saint-Marcel (line 5), which is near the expected end point.
As for major train lines, there shouldn’t be any issues with departures or arrivals. However, the areas around train stations may be congested. The RATP, like the SNCF, is committed to informing its passengers as quickly as possible of any potential disruptions.