Travelers in France are facing significant disruptions to rail services this weekend after a series of coordinated sabotage attacks on the country’s high-speed rail network on Friday.
French rail operator SNCF has warned that the impact of the attacks could last until the end of the weekend, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
The attacks targeted three lines of the TGV high-speed rail network, causing widespread chaos just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
According to SNCF, about a quarter of Eurostar international train services were also cancelled as a result of the disruptions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among those affected by the travel chaos.
SNCF said that on Saturday, the eastern high-speed line would run normally, while the northern and southwestern lines would see around 60-80% of trains running with delays of 1-2 hours.
The company added that it has increased surveillance of the rail network, deploying 1,000 workers and 50 drones.
Junior Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete estimated that around 250,000 people were affected on Friday, with up to 800,000 potentially facing delays and cancellations by Monday.
Read more
Pakistan-origin Shaistah Raja hopes to make history in France
France evacuates five Afghan women ‘threatened by Taliban’ through Pakistan
He suggested that disrupting holiday travel, rather than the Olympic opening ceremony, was the most likely motive behind the sabotage.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, which authorities have described as “acts of sabotage.” An investigation is ongoing to identify those responsible for the well-coordinated operation.
