An end appears to be in sight to the nine-day transport strike afflicting French commuters.
Nationwide rail services and Paris local transport lines ran at reduced capacity as workers in local committees met to decide whether to prolong their strike over President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to cut special pension benefits.
But the start of talks between unions and management of state rail operator SNCF yesterday inspired confidence the standoff was nearing resolution.
The SNCF says support for the strike has dwindled in the past few days. More trains and Paris metro services were running today than earlier this week, though public transport remained severely disrupted.
Rail unions, which met SNCF management yesterday, are expected to continue talking for at least a month.
The strike, which began on November 13th, has been seen as a key test of the credibility of Mr Sarkozy who was elected in May on a platform of economic reform.
Public opinion has been on the government's side in the dispute, but widespread worries over the cost of living have put pressure on the government not to allow the dispute to escalate and get out of hand.
The protests reached a peak on Tuesday when civil servants staged a separate one-day strike over pay and job cuts, and some civil service unions warned they might renew their protests next month.
Students in some universities and high schools have kept up their own demonstrations over education reforms and plan to hold rallies in several cities and at the Sorbonne later today.