The French rail company SNCF has issued a warning that disruption caused by Friday’s sabotage of the country’s train network could persist through the weekend, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers. The coordinated arson attacks on three high-speed TGV lines created chaos for travelers just hours before the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, though a fourth attack was prevented by rail workers.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal labeled the incidents as “acts of sabotage.” Approximately a quarter of international Eurostar trains were also canceled, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer among those impacted.
In a statement on Friday evening, SNCF indicated that traffic on affected lines should “improve” on Saturday due to the efforts of thousands of rail workers. Specifically:
– The eastern line is expected to operate normally from 06:00 (05:00 BST) on Saturday.
– The northern line will run at 80% capacity, with delays of 1-2 hours.
– The south-western line will operate at 60% capacity, also with delays of 1-2 hours.
Customers with delayed or canceled trains will be notified via email or text message. Eurostar has projected that about 20% of its services will be canceled over the weekend, with all trains experiencing delays of approximately 1.5 hours, as its services utilize the northern high-speed line.
SNCF has increased surveillance of the rail network with 1,000 workers and 50 drones. Junior Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete reported that around 250,000 people were affected on Friday, with up to 800,000 potentially facing delays and cancellations by Monday. He suggested that the saboteurs’ primary goal was to disrupt holiday travel rather than the Olympic opening ceremony.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. An investigation source told AFP that the operation was “well-prepared” and carried out by “a single structure.” Security forces are actively searching for those responsible.
The attacks occurred around 04:00 on Friday when saboteurs cut and set fire to specialized fiber optic cables critical for rail network safety. One incident took place in Courtalain, 150km (93 miles) southwest of Paris. Online images show burnt cables in a shallow trench with discarded SNCF paving stones. SNCF described the incidents as a “massive, large-scale attack aimed at paralyzing” its services at multiple sites, including Courtalain, Pagny-sur-Moselle near Metz, and Croisilles near Arras. Another attempted attack in Vergigny, southeast of Paris, was thwarted by SNCF workers performing early morning maintenance.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the attacks, considering them threats to “the fundamental interests of the nation.”
