UPDATE French train services will return to normal starting Monday after being disrupted by coordinated acts of sabotage, the SNCF national rail operator said on Sunday.
“Thanks to the exceptional efforts of SNCF Network staff, who worked non-stop since Friday morning, repairs are now fully completed on all the high-speed rail services affected by the sabotage attacks,” the operator said.
French Railway Operator SNCF says it suffered a “massive attack” aimed at paralyzing its TGV high-speed train network. The attack took place overnight Thursday into Friday, just hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last night, SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous acts of sabotage that affected the Atlantic, North and East high-speed lines, the railway group stated in a press release, adding that arsonists were set to damage (its) facilities.
High-speed train traffic on the Atlantic, Northern and Eastern lines will be “severely disrupted”, the rail group added. This attack comes just hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, when many travelers have planned their journey to the capital. A large number of tourists are also in transit.
The operator advises “all passengers to postpone their journey and not go to the station”, stating in its statement that all tickets are exchangeable and refundable.
“A massive attack took place last night to paralyze the high-speed line network. Voluntary fires have been started on the Atlantic, North and Eastern lines causing damage to our facilities. Train traffic is very disturbed on these axes. We request all travellers who can to postpone their journey and refrain from going to the station. All tickets are exchangeable and refundable You will be contacted by email or text if you are concerned about this situation”, the company said.
Disruption expected “at least through the weekend”
“We are diverting some trains to the classic line, but we will have to cancel a large number of them,” SNCF said. The South-East line, on the other hand, “is not affected”, the group stated.
SNCF Réseau teams “are already on site to diagnose the problem and begin repairs,” but this “situation should last at least until the end of the week while repairs are carried out,” the operator said.
🇫🇷 7h30 Gare Montparnasse à Paris, 1er jour des JO. Plus de trains. 👇 #sncf pic.twitter.com/PZYl9QF7n9
— 75 Secondes 🗞️ (@75secondes) July 26, 2024
“A day of sadness for the SNCF”
“Today is a day of sadness,” deplored the president of the SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, who denounced the acts committed by “a bunch of crazy, irresponsible people.”
He added that “thousands of railway workers” will work during the weekend to repair damaged infrastructure and welcome passengers. The SNCF teams will “make sure that everything goes as quickly as possible.” He estimates that around 800,000 passengers will be affected.
Eurostar also affected
Eurostar also said its rail services between London and Paris had been disrupted by the acts of vandalism, resulting in several cancellations and longer journey times.
“Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting the high speed line between Paris and Lille, all high speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today Friday 26 July. This extends the journey time by around an hour and a half,” Eurostar said in a statement, quoted by France24.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete denounces a “scandalous criminal act”. He notes the “coincidence of the timing which is more than suspicious” and mentions “vans found with people who fled” and “incendiary devices which were found on site”.
He believes that there will be “very serious consequences” on rail traffic with one train out of two heading to the North, East and Brittany and one train out of four “towards Bordeaux” on this summer cross-country weekend and the opening of the Olympic Games.
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