Chirac boosted as French rail strike nears end of line

FRANCE’S beleaguered leadership last night received a boost after rail unions raised hopes that a crippling strike would end.

Commuters crammed on trains and long-distance travellers faced lengthy waits yesterday as workers at France’s state-run railway system went on strike, disrupting national lines and suburban Paris services.

The open-ended strike at the SNCF national rail network kicked off a planned week of labour walkouts that looked likely to add to the problems facing the centre-right government, already weakened by weeks of rioting in poor suburbs.