FRENCH state rail workers in four trade unions held a major strike today, at the same time as cabbies protested over competition from internet minicab services.

The strike at state rail firm SNCF started on Tuesday evening.

High-speed intercity services were cut drastically while regional trains were also affected, particularly around the capital Paris.

SNCF claimed that only 28 per cent of railway workers took part.

But that was enough to halt about 70 per cent of regular train services, along with at least 50 per cent of high-speed trains, the company admitted. 

And it looked like the rail strike would continue after unions voted yesterday to continue their action for another 24 hours, noting that the strike was “extendable.”

“The rail workers will not go back to work without written guarantees from the government for a modified reform,” warned general union CGT general secretary Gilbert Garel.

Workers say they are concerned about plans to merge RFF, which operates the rail network, with SNCF, which runs the trains. 

Their trade unions say the planned merger is too complex and would lead to the loss of benefits for employees.

They warn the plans are just a preparation to opening railways to the private sector and disregard the interests of both rail workers and the public.

Rail passengers who managed to arrive at major terminals were doubly hampered yesterday by an almost total lack of taxis.

French cabbies joined taxi drivers across Europe in protests against the rise of internet-based minicab services which use mobile phone apps to find customers cheap, but often unlicensed and “dangerous” taxis.

Hundreds of taxis disrupted traffic to and from Paris airports as part of the Europe-wide protest.

Over 300 taxis assembled at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in the morning, later heading for central Paris in slow convoy.

Another convoy left Orly airport, south of the capital, leaving 200 other drivers blocking pick-up points until police moved them on.

There were also protests in Orly, Marseille, Nantes and Rennes and, elsewhere in Europe, Rome, Berlin, Frankfurt, Madrid and London.