Macron asking for christmas peace for train traffic at 18. day of a strike that hits hard down in juletrafikken.

Tens of thousands of frenchmen tried on Sunday to find transport to those parts of the country, where they should have christmas with the family.

Less than half of the high-speed TGV and a quarter of intercitytogene is running as normal. In the capital city Paris is only two out of the 16 metro lines, which can be used.

- I am angry, this strike is unbearable. The government must do something, says a traveler, Jeffrey Nwutu Ebube, who tried to find a way to get home to Toulouse from the northern port city of Le Havre - a trip of about 850 miles.

the rail company SNCF called on Sunday travellers to change or cancel scheduled journeys.

President Emmanuel Macron called on Saturday the strikers to take a break in the 18 day long strike over the christmas period.

The appeal comes three days after negotiations between the trade unions and the government broke down.

The strikers are unhappy with the Macrons plans to simplify France's pension system. It will mean that some public servants will lose certain privileges.

In the population, there is general support for the strikers and their demands. Probably the support has fallen by three percentage points, but 51 percent of those polled French people say they support the transportansattes requirements.

the President, who is on a visit in côte d'ivoire, calls on the strikers to show responsibility and "let reason prevail".

- I would argue that there are times in a nation's life, where it's also good to conclude the truce, out of respect for families and family life, said the Macron on Saturday.

The French presidential palace announced also on Saturday, that the president himself renounced the pension he otherwise is entitled to as head of state.

He did not the lucrative place in the constitutional council, as tradition would otherwise attribute.

It means that he renounces in all 19.720 € 148.000 euros) per month.

/ritzau/AFP