Major Disruptions Hit French Rail Network Amid Arson Attacks Just Before Olympic Opening Ceremony
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/27th July 2024
On Saturday, a significant disruption to French high-speed train services is expected, with three out of every ten trains being cancelled due to a series of coordinated arson attacks. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has stated that security forces are actively searching for the “saboteurs” responsible for the incidents that paralysed the rail networks on Friday.
The National Rail Company SNCF has reported that the trains that do operate will face delays of up to two hours on three major lines connecting Paris to various regions. The affected lines include routes to the North, Brittany, and South-West, where the damage was most severe. The attacks involved setting fire to cabling boxes at crucial junctions, including the specialised fibre optic cables essential for the safe functioning of the rail network. These deliberate acts of vandalism occurred just hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris.
Eurostar services, which connect London and Paris via high-speed rail, are also experiencing significant disruptions. A quarter of Eurostar’s international trains have been cancelled during the crucial opening weekend of the Olympics. The travel chaos has been compounded by the ongoing repair work, which has seen SNCF staff working through the night in challenging conditions to fix the damaged infrastructure.
The scale of the disruption is considerable, with SNCF estimating that around 250,000 passengers were affected on Friday alone. Junior Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete indicated that the impact could extend to as many as 800,000 passengers over a three-day period. Eurostar customers are advised to delay their travel plans, as service interruptions are expected to continue until Monday.
The sabotage operation, described by authorities as “well-prepared” and executed by “a single structure,” has been particularly damaging. Efforts to repair the rail network are ongoing, with engineers working tirelessly to restore services. Despite their efforts, the impact on rail travel will persist, with continued disruptions expected on Sunday, particularly on the North axis. Improvements are anticipated on the Atlantic axis as the weekend progresses.
Among those affected by the disruptions was UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who had planned to travel to the Olympic opening ceremony by train but was forced to fly due to the service cancellations. This incident underscores the broader implications of the sabotage, not just for local travel but for international connections and major events.
As investigations continue and repairs are made, authorities are urging passengers to stay informed about the status of their travel plans and to seek alternative arrangements if necessary. The situation remains fluid, and further updates will be provided as the rail network works to return to normal operations.
