Following the successful defusal of a 500kg unexploded bomb found in Saint-Denis, Paris train services are set to resume, ending major disruptions for travelers amidst Paris Fashion Week.
Paris Train Services Set to Reopen After WWII Bomb is Safely Defused
Paris Train Services Set to Reopen After WWII Bomb is Safely Defused
An unexploded World War Two bomb near Gare du Nord disrupts travel, but services are expected to return to normal.
On Friday, an unexploded World War Two bomb near Gare du Nord led to a halt in train services as officials acted swiftly to manage the situation. French authorities reported the bomb, discovered about a mile from the station at a construction site, was defused without incident. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed that all Eurostar trains to and from Paris have been cancelled for the day, but normal services are expected to resume on Saturday.
Local authorities evacuated around 200 residents from homes within a 500-meter radius of the bomb site. Fortunately, six schools and a care facility for the elderly, situated inside the evacuation zone, were not at risk due to their positioning. The bomb was located near a busy intersection and had caused significant traffic delays, contributing to a total of 218 kilometers of jams throughout the Paris region.
Eurostar’s Chief Safety and Stations Officer, Simon Lejeune, characterized the situation as "complex," stating that the decision to cancel all 32 scheduled Eurostar services was made in the interest of passenger clarity amid confusion. He expressed his apologies for the inconveniences travelers faced and encouraged them to use the Eurostar website for booking changes and refunds.
In addition to Eurostar cancellations, high-speed TGV trains were notably disrupted, with some rerouted to Gare de Lyon. However, Eurostar services between Brussels and Marne-la-Vallée remained unaffected. To alleviate the backlog, two extra Eurostar trains are scheduled for Saturday, offering additional options for stranded travelers.
Passengers at St Pancras International Station described chaotic scenes as they attempted to recalibrate their travel plans; one group expressed frustration after waiting over two hours to discover their train had been cancelled.
Amidst the chaos, travelers shared their own stories of being affected by the disruption. For example, Jess Sayer, who was in Paris to celebrate a milestone birthday, found herself in a precarious situation as flights were fully booked, leaving her uncertain on how to return home. Similarly, personal shopper Anna Griffiths, who was invited to an event for Paris Fashion Week, regretted missing her chance to attend due to the cancellations.
While Eurostar passengers faced significant travel hurdles, officials remain optimistic that services will normalize by the weekend. As preparations for Paris Fashion Week continue, many event-goers hope to salvage their plans and join the exciting fashion gatherings in the city.
Local authorities evacuated around 200 residents from homes within a 500-meter radius of the bomb site. Fortunately, six schools and a care facility for the elderly, situated inside the evacuation zone, were not at risk due to their positioning. The bomb was located near a busy intersection and had caused significant traffic delays, contributing to a total of 218 kilometers of jams throughout the Paris region.
Eurostar’s Chief Safety and Stations Officer, Simon Lejeune, characterized the situation as "complex," stating that the decision to cancel all 32 scheduled Eurostar services was made in the interest of passenger clarity amid confusion. He expressed his apologies for the inconveniences travelers faced and encouraged them to use the Eurostar website for booking changes and refunds.
In addition to Eurostar cancellations, high-speed TGV trains were notably disrupted, with some rerouted to Gare de Lyon. However, Eurostar services between Brussels and Marne-la-Vallée remained unaffected. To alleviate the backlog, two extra Eurostar trains are scheduled for Saturday, offering additional options for stranded travelers.
Passengers at St Pancras International Station described chaotic scenes as they attempted to recalibrate their travel plans; one group expressed frustration after waiting over two hours to discover their train had been cancelled.
Amidst the chaos, travelers shared their own stories of being affected by the disruption. For example, Jess Sayer, who was in Paris to celebrate a milestone birthday, found herself in a precarious situation as flights were fully booked, leaving her uncertain on how to return home. Similarly, personal shopper Anna Griffiths, who was invited to an event for Paris Fashion Week, regretted missing her chance to attend due to the cancellations.
While Eurostar passengers faced significant travel hurdles, officials remain optimistic that services will normalize by the weekend. As preparations for Paris Fashion Week continue, many event-goers hope to salvage their plans and join the exciting fashion gatherings in the city.
