Arson incidents lead to major disruptions in Paris rail network ahead of Olympic opening 

In the wake of several arson incidents, France's rail network was plunged into chaos just hours before the official inauguration of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Travelers have been urged to delay their journeys if possible. Patrice Vergriete, France's Minister Delegate of Transport, labeled the incidents as "coordinated malicious acts."

The arson attacks, which took place between 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. local time, impacted multiple TGV lines (France's high-speed intercity rail service). Paris' prosecutor's office has launched an investigation.

According to SNCF, France's national railway operator, services are anticipated to be significantly disrupted throughout the weekend after fires were ignited at various locations along lines linking Paris to the west, north, and east. Reports suggest the fires were aimed at electrical or signaling equipment.

The organization issued a statement on the social media platform X, stating, "Last night, SNCF fell victim to multiple acts of vandalism affecting the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines."

"I am thinking of all the French who won’t be able to go on holiday today or those who will face worse travel conditions," said SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou in an interview with French news network BFMTV. "This will likely continue throughout the weekend as repairs will take considerable time... it's a day of sadness."

Eurostar is also experiencing significant disruptions along the high-speed line between Paris and Lille. Delays are anticipated to increase the typical travel time by as much as an hour and a half, leading to numerous cancellations.

The Eurostar website is currently displaying significant delays across all services today, with at least 11 cancellations. The routes most affected appear to be those connecting Brussels and Paris.

"Due to coordinated malicious acts in France impacting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains arriving at or departing from Paris are being rerouted via the standard line today, Friday, July 26," stated a Eurostar spokesperson. "Our teams are fully mobilized at stations, in call centers, and onboard to ensure that all passengers are updated and can reach their destinations."

The rail company is advising passengers to consider postponing their trips if possible, allowing them to cancel without any penalties and receive full refunds. Passengers also have the option to change the dates of their journeys if they prefer.

A Eurostar representative informed TPG that the train operator anticipates canceling about 25% of its scheduled services over the weekend, with disruptions expected to continue into Monday morning.

According to Reuters, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL), which is jointly managed by France and Switzerland, temporarily halted flights and evacuated a terminal this morning due to a bomb threat. It remains unclear if this incident is connected to the earlier arson attacks on the rail system; the airport has since reopened.

"For safety reasons, the terminal had to be evacuated and is currently closed. Flight operations have been temporarily suspended," the airport stated on X. "Passengers are advised to reach out to their airline for updates regarding their flights."

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, indicated that authorities are working to "assess the impact on travelers and athletes and ensure the transport of all delegations to their competition venues."

It is still uncertain how long it will take to restore rail services to full operation, and there is no information regarding who might be responsible for the attacks. This story is developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Conclusion

As the 2024 Paris Olympics — one of the year's most eagerly awaited international events — kicks off, today was meant to be a day of celebration in France. However, the festivities have been overshadowed by a series of arson attacks that have critically disrupted French rail services. These disruptions are anticipated to persist throughout the weekend, prompting rail passengers to consider postponing their travel plans if possible.