France's rail network hit by 'massive arson attack' delaying Eurostar trains hours before Paris Olympics opening ceremony

A “massive arson attack” on France’s rail network brought chaos to the start of the Paris Olympics on Friday.

With just hours to go before the opening ceremony on the River Seine , fires were started at key installations, bringing trains to a halt.

This caused the cancellation of multiple services, including ones meant to be bringing sports fans into the French capital.

France has been hit with a series of “coordinated malicious acts”, said Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete, pointing to series of fires.

They were focused on the TGV high speed train network which covers the whole of France, and which is particularly busy at this time of year.

Eurostar said journey times in both directions between London and Paris were expected to be delayed by up to 90 minutes.

This is because trains were being switched to conventional “classic” tracks – rather than the 186mph high-speed track – due to damage to signalling installations near Arras.

Engineers from the French state railway SNCF were on site at Arras to assess the impact and begin repairs. Some Eurostar trains this morning were cancelled.

Eurostar’s Brussels-Lille-London trains are not affected.

Eurostar said in a statement: “Due to coordinated acts of malice in France, affecting the high speed line between Paris and Lille, all high speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today, Friday 26 July. This extends the journey time by around an hour and a half. Several trains have been cancelled.

“Eurostar's teams are fully mobilised in stations, in the call centres, and onboard to ensure that all passengers are informed and can reach their destination.Customers are being informed via email, SMS and on Eurostar.com” Passengers can cancel or amend their journey free of charge or be refunded.

The Gare du Nord – the main Eurostar hub in Paris – was hit by the ongoing attacks on the rail network, said a spokesman for SNCF.

“Numerous stations are affected, including Gare du Nord, with services across France cancelled or delayed,” he said.

Thousands of people from the UK are due to be travelling to Paris by rail on Friday, for the start of the Olympics.

Beyond the Olympics, Mr Vergriete said the “criminal actions will compromise the holiday departures of many French people”.

The first blaze was detected early on Friday morning near tracks at Courtalain, in the Eure-et-Loir department.

It caused the interruption of traffic on the hugely busy Atlantique high-speed line.

SNCF – France’s rail operator – also referred to a “malicious act” on the high-speed line between Lille and Paris, in the northern Arras sector.

TGV Inoui and Ouigo trains were diverted to conventional lines, causing cancellations and far longer journey times.

Crowds built up at major Paris stations such as Montparnasse, where trains to and from nearby towns such as Tours and Le Mans all cancelled.

A spokesman for SNCF said it was the victim of “a massive arson attack to paralyse the TGV network”.

He said the disruption should “last at least the whole weekend”, and would have a knock-on effect across the network.

Criminal investigations will be opened into the attacks, but there was no initial theory as to who was behind them.

Olympic organisers have long feared acts of sabotage tagetting the multi-billion pounds games, and a vast security operation costing £350million has unfolded in Paris to try and counter threats.

The largest peacetime deployment of forces in France’s history involves some 75,000 soldiers, police and private security agents.

“We’re focused and we’re ready,” said General Lionel Catar, one of the military planners before the showpiece opening.

The priority is to protect some 80,000 competitors as they progress down the River Seine in dozens of barges, in front of some 350,000 spectators, and a TV audience of more than a billion.

Gérald Darmanin, France’s Interior Ministry, said “the terrorist threat remains high” and that “a high level of vigilance” remains essential.

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