Attack on the TGV network: “Traffic is starting to pick up again”, says the Minister Delegate for Transport

July 26, 2024 Today at 09:24

A few hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, serious disruptions are affecting the SNCF high-speed train networks. The circulation of Eurostar trains from Brussels and London to France is also disrupted.

The French railway company (SNCF) suffered a “Massive attack to paralyze” its TGV networkthe group told AFP. A few hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, there is panic on the network.

What happened?

The SNCF “was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts last night affecting the Atlantic, North and East high-speed lines,” the railway group said in a press release, specifying that “arson attacks were started to damage (its) installations”.

“This situation should last at least the entire weekend, while repairs are carried out.”

As a result, TGV traffic on these three routes is “very disrupted”. “We are diverting some trains to the classic line, but “We’re going to have to cut a lot of them.”said the SNCF. The South-East TGV line, however, is “not affected”the group said.

SNCF Réseau teams “are already on site to carry out the diagnosis and begin repairs”, but This situation should last at least the entire weekendwhile repairs are carried out,” the operator said.

Full screen view French SNCF employees and gendarmes inspect the scene of a suspected attack on the railway network in Croiselles, northern France, on July 26, 2024. ©AFP

An investigation was opened on Friday in the wake ofannounced the resigning Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. “The investigation is starting, I call on everyone to be cautious. What we know, what we see, is that This operation was prepared, coordinated, and targeted nerve centers, which shows a form of knowledge of the network to know where to strike.“.

What are the consequences?

Trains cancelled or delayed by several hours… Acts of sabotage have caused chaos on the rail network and in major Parisian stations. On the Atlantic high-speed line, no more trains were running in the morning.

These sabotages come just hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, while many travelers plan to converge on the capital. A large number of holidaymakers are also in transit. Some 800,000 travelers are affectedaccording to SNCF.

In the early afternoon, Traffic was however beginning to pick up again.particularly on the Atlantic high-speed line, announced the Minister Delegate for Transport, Patrice Vergriete.At Montparnasse station and Bordeaux stationwhich were the most affected, we should find one in three trains this afternoon. It is already improving,” the minister indicated on the 1 p.m. news on TF1, praising the work of the SNCF Réseau teams.

SNCF will present a new traffic plan “from the beginning of the afternoon,” Gabriel Attal also indicated. “SNCF is committed to communicating with passengers directly and in a targeted manner on the new solutions, the alternatives that will be offered to them.”

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What about trains in Belgium?

The consequences of the attack in France are also being felt here. Some high-speed trains scheduled to depart from Brussels-Midi and arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport have been cancelled., warned the SNCB on Friday at noon.

Train traffic to mainland France will remain disturbed all day at leastadded the Belgian railway company. Passengers to Lille Europe from Brussels-Midi are invited to go to Tournaiwhere they can catch a connection to Lille Flandres station. To reach Paris Nord from Gare du Midi, users can take EuroCity trains.

But the Eurostar trains connecting London station and the French capital are also affected by these disruptions. This Friday, Eurostar will cancel 25% of its trains. This will also be the case on Saturday and Sunday.

Delays are also expected: “All high-speed trains to and from Paris are being diverted to the classic line this Friday, July 26. This extends the journey time to an hour and a half.,” explained the railway company, which predicts that The situation will last until Monday morning.

“Eurostar teams are fully mobilised in stations, in call centres and on board to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach their destination,” she added. She encourages customers to postpone their journey if possible.

They are informed by email or SMS, but they can also go to the Eurostar websiteshe says. If you are affected by the disruption, there are two options:

• cancel free of charge and be reimbursed;
• change your trip for free.

Basel-Mulhouse airport evacuated

Adding to the disruption in France, shortly before noon on Friday, Basel-Mulhouse airport was evacuated for “security reasons,” the Franco-Swiss platform announced. “The terminal had to be evacuated and is currently closed. Further information will follow.“, said the airport, located in France near the Swiss border. Air traffic finally resumed in the middle of the day.

At the end of last year, The terminal had been the target of numerous bomb threatswhich each time led to the evacuation of the terminal. It is the third largest airport in Switzerland after Zurich and Geneva, and one of the largest in the provinces of France.