High-speed trains around France were hit by several “malicious acts” that heavily disrupted traffic on the day of the high-risk opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, according to the national rail company SNCF.
Travel to and from London beneath the English Channel, to neighbouring Belgium, and across the west, north and east of France were affected by what SNCF called a series of coordinated overnight incidents.
Government officials denounced the incidents hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which are happening around France, though there was no immediate sign of a link to the Games.
READ MORE: ‘Sabotage’ claims in horse whipping scandal
The railway operator said the disruption hit Atlantic, Northern and Eastern high-speed TGV lines, with damage caused to several of its facilities. SNCF said one of the acts was “foiled”.
Travel on these lines is “very disrupted,” with the railway network needing to divert and cancel a large number of trains, SNCF said.
Disruptions were expected throughout the weekend as work crews oversee repairs, it added.
The Rémi Train Centre Val de Loire said travel on its railway lines would be disrupted until at least Monday, with a fire near the tracks in Courtalain, northern France impacting services to Paris.
The reports come just hours before the Olympic torch relay concludes and the Opening Ceremony begins, with more than 320,000 spectators expected to attend along the River Seine.
READ MORE: Aussies into rugby sevens medal rounds after belting USA
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera condemned the attacks in the “strongest possible terms”, and said it is “truly appalling”.
“Playing against the Games is playing against France, against your own camp, against your country,” she told BFM television.
“We will assess the impacts on travellers, athletes, and ensure the proper transport of all delegations to the competition sites.”
She didn’t identify who was behind the vandalism.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said in a post on X that he “firmly condemns these criminal incidents”, and that SNCF is working to restore traffic.
National police said authorities are investigating what happened.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, speaking on France Info radio, said he would send police reinforcement to overcrowded train stations in relation to the SNCF incidents.
Passengers at St. Pancras station in London were warned to expect delays of around an hour to their Eurostar journeys.
Announcements in the departure hall at the international terminus informed travellers heading to Paris that there was a problem with overhead power supplies.
– With Associated Press, CNN
Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport.
links to content on ABC
9News
