One in four Eurostar trains cancelled after arson attacks
PAA quarter of all Eurostar trains will be cancelled on Friday and over the weekend after arson attacks caused disruption ahead of the opening of the Olympics in France.
The rail operator, which runs international services from London St Pancras, said the cancellations were because of “co-ordinated” vandalism on other high-speed lines, with customers told to cancel their trips where possible.
The disruption coincides with people travelling to see the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and come as millions embark on summer getaways.
Two people waiting in queues for the Eurostar on Friday morning were the parents of athlete Ellie Boatman, from Team GB’s rugby sevens team, who said they were prepared to wait “for however long”.
Asked whether the delays might get in the way of their excitement, they both said “no”.
“We’ll just have to have another glass of prosecco,” they said.
One of the first affected London-Paris Eurostar trains arrived at Gare du Nord on Friday morning.
Megan Murphy, 50, told the BBC it was “crowded but manageable” after arriving 90 minutes late.
“It is worrying how much more delayed the later trains will be,” she said. “Definitely not a good situation.”
Passenger Sarah Moseley said the disruption was “a hell of a way to start the Olympics” as she attempted to travel to London from Gard du Nord in Paris.
French rail company SNCF said a series of incidents overnight had affected travel to and from London and Belgium, and across the north, east and west of France.
French transport minister Patrice Vergriete told broadcasters incendiary devices had been discovered and people had fled from the fires.
Three fires were reported near the tracks of the French Atlantique, Nord and Est high-speed lines.
Eurostar said it expected the situation to last until Monday morning and encouraged customers to “postpone their trip if possible”.
The company said affected passengers can cancel or refund their tickets, or modify their journey free of charge.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Due to co-ordinated 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.
“This extends the journey time by around an hour-and-a-half.”
The majority of Team GB athletes were arriving at the Games via Eurostar.
The British Olympic Association confirmed that only two athletes were scheduled to arrive on Friday and had been subject to only minor delays.
SNCF said the situation should last “at least all weekend” but that teams were already on site carrying out checks and beginning repairs.
A spokesperson for Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, which transports vehicles from Folkestone to Calais in northern France, said its services had not been affected by the incident.
