Travellers hoping to use Eurostar services this weekend are being warned as the operator has been forced to cancel a quarter of its trains due to "co-ordinated" vandalism. The vandals wreaked havoc on the rail network just as the Paris 2024 Olympics kick off, and holidaymakers set off on their summer breaks.
The international service operating from London St Pancras announced that 25 per cent of its services on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday won't be running. Travellers have faced cancellations and delays to Paris-bound trains, with some being rerouted, and Eurostar is advising customers to cancel their plans if they can.
The disruption strikes at a critical time, right before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games begin and as millions are travelling into Europe for their summer holidays. French rail operator SNCF reported that a spate of incidents overnight had impacted routes under the Channel to Belgium and throughout France.
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French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, as quoted by the Associated Press, highlighted that the vandalism was strategically aimed at key routes leading to Paris from the north, east, and west. Attal warned of "massive consequences," with potentially "hundreds of thousands" of people affected during their travels to the Games or on holiday.
In a statement, Eurostar 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 via the classic line today Friday July 26."
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Their statement continued: "This extends the journey time by around an hour-and-a-half. Eurostar expects this situation will last until Monday morning. Today, Eurostar will cancel 25 per cent of its trains. It will also be the case on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28."
It concluded: "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. We encourage our customers to postpone their trip if possible."
Notifications have been sent out to passengers by the company via email, text and prominent notices on the Eurostar website. Anyone affected by the changes is offered options to cancel or refund their tickets or modify their journey without any charges.
SNCF has warned that the disruption is expected to last "at least all weekend", with teams already on site carrying out checks and beginning repairs. The operator advised all its passengers to postpone their journeys and "not to go to the station".
Speaking to Sky News about the vandalism, French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said: "I condemn them extremely strongly. It's just unacceptable. It's probably a large-scale sabotage with some malicious acts, probably co-ordinating."
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. London Luton Airport has reported a 25 per cent increase in passenger numbers to Paris this week and is expecting more than 115,000 passengers to depart from the airport between Friday and Monday.
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