SNCF Connect advises splitting tickets as some international itineraries vanish from booking engine
Paris region kicks off summer works: RER C shut between Austerlitz and western suburbs from 15 July
UK issues fresh Bastille Day travel advisory for Paris metro closures and traffic restrictions
Latest News
Advance Passenger Information now compulsory for UK-bound rail trips, SNCF Connect confirms
From 15 July 2026, Eurostar passengers must submit Advance Passenger Information before travelling between France and the UK, according to an SNCF Connect update. The rule brings rail into line with airline security standards and adds a new compliance step for corporate travel managers.
France’s Council of State Re-imposes Mandatory QR-Code Check-In for Bastille Day Parade
France’s top court has restored a compulsory QR-code and ID check for all spectators of today’s Bastille Day parade, reversing a lower-court suspension issued less than 24 hours earlier. The measure, justified by authorities as essential to protect visiting dignitaries such as Ukraine’s president, forces last-minute compliance by thousands of domestic and foreign visitors and signals France’s intention to normalise digital crowd-screening at major events.
UK and EU Agree Measures to Smooth Entry/Exit-System Checks at French Border Posts
London and Brussels have struck a last-minute deal to boost staff and infrastructure for the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System at French border controls in Dover, Eurotunnel and Eurostar terminals. An extra £20 million in UK funding and French police reinforcements aim to prevent summer queues, but businesses are warned that first-time EES enrolment still adds several minutes per traveller.
Paris Defends Tougher Schengen Visa Rules for Guineans as Conakry Urges “Mutual Respect”
At France’s Bastille Day reception in Conakry, Ambassador Luc Briard justified new EU-level restrictions on Schengen visas for Guinean citizens, saying they reflect “a pact of confidence” linked to migrant-return cooperation. Guinea’s government urged a respectful dialogue, but businesses already face longer lead-times and extra paperwork for Guinean travellers heading to France.
Heatwave, Fires and Holiday Rush Snarl French Rail and Road Networks
Wildfires and record heat on 13–14 July temporarily shut the Paris–Lyon high-speed rail line and parts of the A6 motorway, disrupting holiday and business travel just as 1.9 million passengers were expected to move across France for the Bastille Day break. Although TGVs are running again, Intercités cuts and residual delays mean travellers should keep flexible itineraries.
Extreme Heat Delays 521 Flights at Paris-CDG and Nice Airports
On 13 July, extreme heat and congestion disrupted 521 flights at Paris-CDG and Nice airports, with 13 cancellations and widespread delays that spilled into 14 July. While EC 261 compensation is unlikely, employers should adjust travel policies by favouring early flights and longer connection times as French summers become hotter.