France’s high-speed train network has been targeted by a “massive attack” involving “malicious acts” which were aimed at paralysing the system before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics today (July 26), French rail company SNCF says.
SNCF said fires had been set, aimed at damaging its facilities, and a source close to the investigation told AFP news agency that the attack involved acts of sabotage.
More than 300 000 spectators are expected in the heart of Paris today for an opening ceremony that will see thousands of Olympic athletes sailing down the Seine, reports BBC News.
SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farrandou estimates that up to 800 000 travellers would have been caught up in the disruption and warned that the situation was likely to last throughout the weekend and potentially beyond.
Eurostar services in France to and from Paris are diverted and several trains delayed or cancelled, the rail firm said in a statement. The diversions to other lines are causing a knock-on effect on other services.
Services between London and Paris have also been affected because of its use of the Paris to Lille high-speed line. Passengers on trains between Paris and London have been told to expect journey times to be an hour longer.
Train stations across Paris on today report hundreds of stranded passengers.
Farrandou says thousands of rail workers are being deployed across the network.