Hours before the Paris Olympics opened, train operator SNCF announced on Friday that “malicious acts,” including arson assaults, had damaged France’s high-speed rail network and crippled the transportation system.
According to AFP, a person with knowledge of the inquiry, the strikes were planned acts of “sabotage”.
According to SNCF, “this is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyze the TGV network,” and many routes will need to be canceled.
The national rail operator stated that “SNCF was the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight,” noting that the assaults had an impact on its routes in the Atlantic, North, and East.
There were “arson attacks started to damage our facilities,” it stated, adding that traffic was “heavily disrupted” on the impacted lines and that the situation will last through the weekend while the repairs are being made.
Moments before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, on Friday, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete described a “outrageous criminal act” as a “massive attack” against France’s high-speed TGV rail network.
According to Vergriete, there would be “very serious consequences” for rail traffic throughout the weekend, with connections to northern, eastern, and northwest France being cut in half. 800,000 passengers are expected to be impacted, according to Jean-Pierre Farandou, chief executive of rail operator SNCF.
According to the statement, trains were being rerouted to other tracks “but we will have to cancel a large number of them.”
The southeastern border remained unaffected because “a malicious act was foiled”.
Passengers were advised by SNCF to delay travel and avoid rail stations.
Olympics under strict security
The assaults started as Prior to the Summer Olympics opening ceremony, which was projected to draw 300,000 spectators and a VIP audience, Paris was under strict security.
A flotilla of 85 boats carrying up to 7,500 contestants will sail along a six-kilometer (four-mile) stretch of the Seine River on Friday evening.
Opening outside the major athletics stadium for the first time during the Summer Olympics is a risky move made at a time when France is on high alert for terrorist strikes.
Dozens of travelers were waiting for further details regarding their journeys at the Montparnasse train station in Paris following announcements of delays ranging from 30 minutes to over two hours.
“Normal traffic is expected to resume on Monday, July 29,” peruse an indication at the departure area.
The 27-year-old student Jocelyn, who had intended to travel to Bretagne, stated, “We arrived around 7:00 am. But we were told that we might not be able to leave before Monday.” Jocelyn declined to offer her full name.
