France in chaos with 800k affected as train line sabotaged hours before Olympics ceremony
Huge queues are forming in Paris as an array of high-speed trains are cancelled after vandals vowed to "sabotage" the system.
The Olympics ceremony in Paris has been propelled into chaos as its vital train line has been targeted by vandals carrying out "malicious acts." The £12billion network has come into the spotlight as attempts are made to "paralyse the system".
Several high-speed lines surrounding Paris have, as a result, been hit. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal says "acts of sabotage" were carried out in a "prepared and coordinated manner on SNCF installations".
Queues have been forming for hours at Gare Montparnasse Station, in the city centre, due to a number of trains having been cancelled. SNCF has warned that the situation could last "at least all weekend while repairs are conducted" with 800,000 already affected.
Passengers have been asked to postpone trips if possible and not go to the station. Eurostar trains in France to and from Paris are being diverted, cancellled or delayed with journeys taking 90 more minutes.
SNCF confirmed that fires had been set on three lines. A source close to the investigation told AFP news agency that the attack involved acts of "sabotage". Police investigation coordinator Francois Vignolle said on X (formerly Twitter) that there were five acts of damage caused by incendiary devices being places on the tracks.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on X (formerly Twitter) that the effect on the rail network is "massive and serious" and expresses his gratitude to firefighters at the scene.
He said he's thinking of all the French people who were preparing to go on vacation and shares their anger, adding that he thanks them for their patience. He added that French security forces are searching for the culprits of sabotage.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra also described the attacks as "downright appalling", adding that the impact on the public and Olympic athletes was currently being assessed.
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Perturbations et sabotages sur plusieurs lignes de trains : la #SNCF victime d’une « attaque massive pour paralyser le réseau » ; La gare #Montparnasse paralysée, et à la #gareduNord, aucun train entre #Lille et #Paris#JeuxOlympiques #JOParis2024 pic.twitter.com/rex1ag3wr3
— Dan Konig (@DanKonig5) July 26, 2024
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete has strongly condemned "criminal acts" that he said would affect people's holiday plans.
He wrote on social media: "Co-ordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend. I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the vacation departures of many French people."
Vergriete went on to thank SNCF staff on trying to restore services "as quickly as possible". Among the methods to try and keep trains going, some have been diverted onto different tracks.
