Paris Train Chaos: SNCF Faces Vandalism and Delays
This morning, the French national railway company SNCF announced that it had been the victim of "several acts of malevolence” during the night, resulting in fires on several high-speed lines, according to Euronews.
These incidents led to the cancellation of most trains and caused significant disruption for hundreds of thousands of travellers during one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Travel Advisory
SNCF has advised travellers not to go to stations unless they are certain their train is operating, due to widespread cancellations and delays. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, approximately 800,000 travellers may be affected by these issues.
Areas Affected
The most significant disruption was reported at Montparnasse Station in Paris, where Paris-Tours and Paris-Le Mans trains have been suspended in both directions. SNCF estimates that disruptions will last "at least throughout the entire weekend." Train services from Montparnasse will be limited to routes between Paris and southwestern France, Brittany, and Pays-de-la-Loire. Travellers are advised to postpone their trips if possible.
Eurostar trains are facing delays of approximately 1.5 hours due to the unavailability of the high-speed line. Eurostar has posted an update on X, announcing that "all high-speed trains to and from Paris are being diverted to the classic line. Some trains have been cancelled, while others are being redirected." Passengers are advised to check the website for the latest updates.
Most services from Gare du Nord in Paris, one of Europe's busiest train stations, to northern France, Belgium, and the UK are delayed. However, the TGV Sud-Est line is unaffected, so trains to Lyon, the Alps, and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region are running on schedule.
SNCF has stated: "TGV traffic on the Atlantique, Nord, and Est lines remains severely disrupted. The diversion of some trains to conventional lines is necessary, and many trains will be cancelled. Currently, high-speed trains to the north and east are facing delays of up to 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. Some trains have been cancelled. No high-speed trains are running in the Atlantique area to and from Paris until early afternoon."
Advice for Passengers
SNCF recommends that all passengers postpone their travel and avoid going to stations. This measure aims to reduce congestion, where police are already present.
Compensation and Passenger Rights
SNCF has confirmed that all tickets can be changed or refunded. Affected passengers will be contacted via email or text message. Additional information can be found on the SNCF website.
Investigation and Response
Authorities condemned the incidents a few hours before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, which are taking place across France. However, no immediate links to the sporting event have been identified. The national police stated that the causes of the fires are under investigation, and Minister of Transport Patrice Vergriete condemned "these criminal acts." Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera stated that authorities are working to "assess the impact on travellers and athletes and ensure the transport of delegations to the competition venues."
Laurent Nunez, the head of Paris police, announced that reinforcements will be sent to the overcrowded train stations in response to the SNCF incidents.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
