Just hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024, France’s high-speed TGV rail network was severely disrupted by multiple “malicious acts,” including arson attacks. These acts of “coordinated sabotage” targeted some of the busiest rail lines, causing significant travel disruptions.
The state-owned SNCF reported that arsonists attacked installations along lines connecting Paris with the western, northern, and eastern regions. This sabotage also impacted travel to and from London via the English Channel and to neighboring Belgium. SNCF had to divert and cancel numerous trains, and team members were dispatched to oversee repairs.
“The SNCF was the victim of several acts of vandalism on the Atlantic, Northern, and Eastern high-speed lines. Fires were deliberately set to damage our installations,” the company stated. SNCF urged all travelers to postpone their journeys, acknowledging that traffic would be severely affected throughout the weekend.
The scale of the attack suggests an aim to “paralyse the TGV network,” SNCF told news agency AFP. The company is working urgently to restore services, but the impact of the sabotage is expected to cause delays and cancellations during the critical period of the Olympic Games opening.
Authorities are investigating the incidents, and security measures have been heightened to prevent further disruptions. The French government condemned the acts of vandalism, emphasizing the importance of ensuring safe and smooth transportation during the global event.