In Travel News for January 24th, 2023 we talk about upcoming strikes affecting travel to the United Kingdom, recent violence affecting travelers in Mexico, and a popular Paris Train station has temporarily shut down.
A Fire Temporarily Closes Popular Paris Train Station
This morning travelers in Paris looking to use the Gare de L’Est station faced an unwelcome surprise as all trains have been cancelled. The reason of the cancellation is a fire that broke out around 8:30am at a signal point that damaged around 50 cables. Originally officials hoped to resume service by 10:00am however due to the extent of the damage all trains at this station for Tuesday have been cancelled. The fire is believed to be a deliberate act and is under an arson investigation. Currently service is schedule to resume on Wednesday, January 25th.
More Violence in Mexico's Tourist Areas
Travelers to Mexico’s Quintana Roo, which is home to Cancun, Tulum, and the Yucatan Peninsula, are being warned to be on their guard by the U.S. State Department. The recent warning is the result increased violence between local taxi unions and Ride Share services which have resulted in injuries to some American travelers. The escalation is a result of a January court ruling that allows Uber to operate without a public transport license, which is still required by taxi services. Yesterday taxi drivers blocked one of the main roads leading to the hotel district in Cancun, this forced some travelers to walk or get a ride from local police to reach the airport or their hotel.
Strikes Coming to U.K. on February 1, 2023
February 1st is going to be a disaster for those traveling to the United Kingdom. Members of the Public and Commercial Service union, which includes Border Force staff, will be taking part in one of the largest strikes to hit the U.K. in recent memory. The strikes are set to start on February 1st and will run to 7:00am on February 2nd. So far it looks like this strike will affect most entry points into the U.K. The government has been training military personal, civil servants, and volunteers across the government to be able to support border force at airports and ports to try and lessen the effects this strike will have on travelers. That being said it’s still advised that travelers modify their travel plans to avoid entering the U.K. on February 1st.