Hours away from the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics, high-speed rail traffic to the French capital was severely disrupted on Friday by what officials described as “criminal actions” and sabotage.
The incidents paralysed several high-speed lines linking Paris to the rest of France and to neighbouring countries, according to Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete.
In a statement, Eurostar said: “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. Several trains have been cancelled.
“Eurostar’s teams are fully mobilised in stations, in the call centres, and onboard to assist and ensure our passengers are fully informed. Customers are being informed via email, SMS and on Eurostar.com.”
Mr Vergriete slammed the attack and said that he “firmly condemns these criminal incidents,” confirming work is underway to restore services quickly.
French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera described the attack on the train line as a “sort of coordinated sabotage.
She said: “It’s completely appalling. Playing against the Games is playing against France, against your own camp, against your country.
“It will disrupt this day and probably this weekend as well.”
As Paris authorities geared up for a parade along the Seine River amid tightened security, three fires were reported near the tracks on the high-speed lines of Atlantique, Nord and Est.
The disruptions particularly affected Paris’ major Montparnasse station. Videos posted on social networks showed the hall of the station saturated with travellers.
The Paris police prefecture “concentrated its personnel in Parisian train stations” after the “massive attack” that paralyzed the TGV high-speed network, Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police chief, told France Info television.
The attack occurred against a backdrop of global tensions and heightened security measures as the city prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Many travellers were planning to converge on the capital for the opening ceremony, and many vacationers were also in transit.
SNCF said it did not know when traffic would resume and feared that disruptions would continue “at least all weekend.”
SNCF teams “were already on site to carry out diagnostics and begin repairs,” but the “situation should last at least all weekend while the repairs are carried out,” the operator said.
They advised “all passengers to postpone their journey and not to go to the station,” specifying in its press release that all tickets were exchangeable and refundable.
Valerie Pecresse, president of the regional council of the greater Paris region said “250,000 travellers will be affected today on all these lines.” Substitution plans were underway, but Pecresse advised travellers “not to go to stations.”
