A strike by rail workers partially halted train services around France today.

A strike by rail workers partially halted train services around France today amid restructuring of the freight sector and fears of job losses.

Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said the one-day strike stopped a third of domestic high-speed TGV trains and about half of the TER regional services.

Commuters on some routes in the Paris region packed on to overflowing platforms, while other routes were unaffected.

Three leading rail workers’ unions are striking in protest at restructuring at the SNCF national rail authority.

Mr Bussereau said on LCI television that the 6,000 or 7,000 workers affected by the restructuring would remain employed by SNCF.

The strike is one of several labour actions this week, as parliament starts debating the 2010 budget.