Train chaos as arsonists sabotage TGV and Eurostar services
Passengers asked to delay journeys after ‘massive attack’ on a number of lines, with up to 800,000 journeys affected. Disruptions expected to last until Monday
The delays are affecting routes mostly to the south-west
Christian Mueller / Shutterstock
Serious disruptions are affecting France’s high-speed train network this morning (July 26), after a series of fires, thought to have been started deliberately, broke out along railway lines last night.
TGV trains running between Paris Montparnasse station along the ‘Atlantique’ route have been hit hardest, with delays lasting several hours this morning.
In addition, a number of other issues on TGV lines on the ‘Nord’ and ‘Est’ branches are causing delays.
A fire on the TGV tracks between Lille and Paris mean several Eurostar services have been cancelled, including services between Paris and London, with around one in four trains being cancelled today. Similar cancellations are expected also on Saturday (July 27) and Sunday (July 28).
Services that have not been cancelled will run on non-high speed lines, increasing journey times by around an hour and a half.
Up to 800,000 passengers will be affected by the disruptions, said Jean-Pierre Farandou, president of France's national rail operator the SNCF.
A statement from the SNCF said the fires were “acts of vandalism” and seemingly part of a “massive attack” coordinated against the network.
It is asking passengers “to postpone journeys and not arrive at stations” to help deal with the delays, if their trips are set to be affected.
The Olympics opening ceremony will not be affected by the disruptions, said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, although some spectators may now not be able to reach the event.
Multiple investigations into sabotage
Transport minister Patrice Vergriete said the fire would cause disruptions “until this weekend” on social media platform X.
“I strongly condemn these criminal acts, which will jeopardise the holiday departures of many French people. Many thanks to the SNCF teams, who are working hard to restore traffic conditions as quickly as possible,” he added.
In an interview with TF1 the minister added that the SNCF were not expecting the attacks, and "did not have a specific alert" before the vandalism was committed.
He announced that since the attack additional security forces had been mobilised, including drones, and that the SNCF were on "high alert" for future disruptions.
Several investigations have been launched, including by national police and anti-terrorism forces.
Trains to Brittany and south-west affected
The SNCF said a return to normal schedules for TGV routes would not take place until Monday, and roughly only one in three trains will run this afternoon.
The fire affecting Montparnasse station started around 05:00 near Courtalain (Eure-et-Loir), on tracks used by high-speed trains to France’s west coast (and some central towns).
Trains to cities including Bordeaux, Nantes, Hendaye, Toulouse, Rennes, and Brest are affected.
No train will leave Montparnasse station before at least 13:00, the SNCF announced, but that passengers set to take one of the cancelled services would have their ticket cost reimbursed.
Trains to Le Mans and Tours from Paris are also impacted with only some trains running on these routes.
Local services to the Parisian suburbs from Montparnasse are not affected.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said a temporary train schedule for services over the weekend would be announced this afternoon.
If you were set to travel today, you should check your route online through the SNCF website or the SNCFConnect app.
