French rail operator SNCF has warned that disruptions caused by coordinated sabotage attacks on the country's train network could extend through the weekend, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers. The attacks, which targeted three lines of the high-speed TGV network on Friday, created significant travel chaos just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. A fourth planned attack was thwarted by vigilant rail workers.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal condemned the incidents as "acts of sabotage," underscoring the severity of the disruptions. The attacks have led to the cancellation of about a quarter of international Eurostar trains, impacting notable figures including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In a statement released Friday evening, SNCF reported that service would gradually improve over the weekend. Specifically:
- Eastern Line: Trains are expected to resume normal service from 06:00 local time on Saturday.
- Northern Line: About 80% of trains will be operational, with expected delays of 1-2 hours.
- South-Western Line: Approximately 60% of trains will run, with similar delays of 1-2 hours.
Eurostar, which operates on the northern high-speed line, anticipates that about 20% of its services will be cancelled over the weekend, with all trains experiencing delays of approximately 1.5 hours. The company has advised passengers to expect significant disruption and has committed to contacting customers via email or text message regarding any changes to their travel plans.
SNCF has increased surveillance of the rail network, deploying 1,000 workers and 50 drones to enhance security measures. Junior Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete estimated that around 250,000 people were impacted by the attacks on Friday, with projections indicating that up to 800,000 could experience delays or cancellations by Monday. Vergriete suggested that the primary intention of the saboteurs was likely to disrupt holiday travel, rather than targeting the Olympic events.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. An AFP source linked to the investigation described the operation as "well-prepared" and attributed it to a "single structure." Investigators have opened a probe into the attacks, which targeted essential fibre optic cables crucial for rail network operations.
At around 04:00 on Friday, saboteurs cut and set fire to these cables at multiple locations, including Courtalain, Pagny-sur-Moselle, and Croisilles. A foiled attempt in Vergigny was reported to have been stopped by SNCF maintenance workers on-site. The attacks have prompted prosecutors to investigate the incident as an assault on "the fundamental interests of the nation."
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