By France’s national rail operator, SNCF, has announced the completion of repairs to infrastructure damaged in a suspected coordinated arson attack that occurred on Friday. The incident, which French officials have described as “sabotage,” targeted high-speed TGV lines running to and from Paris, causing significant disruption just hours before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.
SNCF reported that most trains were running as planned on Sunday, with full service expected to resume on Monday. The company’s staff worked around the clock to manually repair fiber optic cables that were targeted on the North, Brittany, and South-West lines. Additionally, rail workers successfully foiled an attempt to destroy safety equipment on a fourth line.
The impact of the attacks was substantial, with SNCF estimating that around 250,000 passengers were affected on Friday alone. Junior transport minister Patrice Vergriete suggested that as many as 800,000 people could have been impacted over three days. The disruption also affected international services, with Eurostar, which runs trains from London to Paris, reporting that one in four of its trains would not run over the weekend.
As of Sunday, SNCF reported that the main western line from Paris was operating almost normally, while three out of four TGV trains were running on the northern line from Lille without expected delays. This swift recovery demonstrates the efficiency of the repair efforts and the resilience of France’s rail infrastructure.
The incident has prompted a criminal investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office, which is being overseen by its organized crime unit. The search for the perpetrators behind these attacks is ongoing, highlighting the security challenges faced in protecting critical infrastructure, especially during high-profile events like the Olympic Games.
Among those affected by the disruption was UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who had planned to travel to the Games’ opening ceremony by train but was forced to fly instead. Starmer acknowledged the frustration caused by the incident, saying, “I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t frustrating because it was, and for very many people it made travel so much harder.”
This event underscores the vulnerability of transportation networks to targeted attacks and the potential for such incidents to cause widespread disruption, particularly during major international events. It also highlights the importance of robust security measures and rapid response capabilities in maintaining the integrity of critical infrastructure.
As France continues to host the Olympic Games, authorities will likely remain vigilant against potential threats to transportation and other key services. The successful repair of the rail lines demonstrates the country’s ability to respond effectively to such challenges, ensuring minimal disruption to both the Games and daily life for residents and visitors alike.
bbc.com
