Rail strike moves into fourth day

French rail workers intensified their strike, keeping most trains idle for a fourth day as they continued to oppose pension reform plans. The government said it might be willing to talk to individual unions if they would call for a return to work.

One moderate union did call for a return, but no real progress toward ending the strike was expected before Tuesday, when civil servants and teachers are expected to strike.

The open-ended rail strike, which started Tuesday, has developed into a trial over one of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s key economic reforms, a standardization of pension plans that would eliminate special benefits for some workers.