France’s high-speed rail network is expected to return to normal operations by Monday after a series of sabotage attacks on signal stations and cables caused major travel disruptions on Friday. The attacks occurred on the first day of the Paris 2024 Olympics, leading to widespread chaos for travelers.
The French rail operator SNCF has assured that transportation for athletes competing in the Olympic Games will be maintained as planned. However, the damage from the sabotage affected major rail lines connecting Paris to various cities including Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west, and Strasbourg in the east. An attempt to sabotage the Paris-Marseille line was thwarted, according to SNCF.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete and SNCF chief Jean-Pierre Farandou addressed the media at Paris’ Montparnasse train station, confirming that train services would continue to face disruptions over the weekend as efforts are made to restore normalcy. On Friday alone, approximately 100,000 travelers were unable to board their trains, while another 150,000 experienced delays but eventually reached their destinations.
Vergriete stated, “There will still be disruptions tomorrow. From Monday, there is no need to worry,” offering some reassurance to the public. Farandou added that investigations are ongoing, and authorities have yet to identify those responsible for the attacks.
According to SNCF’s statement, traffic disruptions are expected to persist on Sunday, particularly on the North axis. However, the situation is anticipated to improve on the Atlantic axis for those returning from weekend travels.
The Eastern high-speed line resumed normal operations early on Sunday morning, but delays are expected to continue on other high-speed lines, with seven out of ten trains running 1 to 2 hours behind schedule.
Initial suspicions about the sabotage have been directed towards leftist militants or environmental activists due to the nature of the attacks. However, two security sources have indicated that there is no concrete evidence linking these groups to the incident.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized that it is too early to determine who might be behind the sabotage, noting that the attacks were carefully planned and targeted key parts of the rail network.
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