We would like to inform you that ongoing agricultural protests in France may affect our transport services. Farmers have blocked roads in several places, which could lead to delays.
We will – within our power – try to minimise delays and hope this will not cause too much inconvenience. Call us if you have any questions!
UPDATE MONDAY JAN 29:
The agricultural protests in France are ongoing and are escalating with a planned “siege” of Paris starting at 2 pm.
Due to sharp increases in both petrol and seed prices, but also falling sales prices, French farmers have organized major protests. In over 80 of the country’s departments, protests have been organized and tractors have blocked highways.
The French farmers have blocked central roads in various parts of the country, including around the town of Bourdeaux, which is a central junction in traffic between France and Spain. Actions have also been carried out around Paris and an important highway has been blocked. One of the motorways going south from Lyon is said to have also been closed for a stretch of 400 kilometres.
Farmers’ protests continue across France, Belgium and Germany. On Monday, a “snail operation” will begin to knock out the motorways. France prepares with 15,000 police and armored cars.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin held a crisis meeting on Sunday ahead of the large protests expected on Monday, reports BFMTV. The goal is to prevent the 55,000 demonstrating farmers from blocking the eight major highways and entering major cities with their tractors. – A blockade of Paris, the Rungis market and Paris airports are red lines, says Darmanin and urges people to leave the car because the traffic situation will be extremely difficult.
Snail operation initiated and protests spread to neighbouring countries
Protests have also broken out in the neighboring countries of Belgium and Germany. Belgian farmers will begin a snail-like operation on Monday, driving tractors onto heavily trafficked roads to block the highways, writes BMFTV. The farmers’ fury is based on increased taxes on fuel, low wages and what they believe are overly far-reaching climate measures.