Latest news with #SNCF
Roya News
2 days ago
- Roya News
Eurostar trains resume operations after major cable theft
Eurostar has resumed normal operations after a large-scale theft of signal cable in northern France severely disrupted services between the UK and mainland Europe, stranding thousands of travelers and sparking concerns about potential sabotage. The incident unfolded early Wednesday when 600 meters of essential signaling cable was discovered either stolen or deliberately severed near Lille Europe station, a critical hub linking London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. The damage prompted widespread delays and cancellations, with passengers advised to cancel or postpone their journeys. 'Due to the theft, our trains were likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations,' Eurostar said in a morning alert to customers. 'Our stations are very busy, and we advise you to cancel or postpone your trip.' Eurostar offered full refunds and free exchanges as technicians rushed to the scene. By the afternoon, a team of 15 engineers had completed emergency repairs, and services slowly began returning to normal. The disruption triggered chaos at London's St Pancras station, where confused and frustrated passengers gathered, many unsure of the status of their trips. 'It has been a nightmare. It's been pretty shocking,' said Ed, a 41-year-old renewable energy worker who was traveling with his colleague Paul, 37, to a meeting in Paris. 'The app basically said: 'Your journey is being disrupted', but they didn't say: 'Your train is definitely cancelled', so it's been quite confusing and we're wondering if we will still get our money back.' A couple in their 70s from Coventry, whose holiday plans were thrown into disarray, described waiting all day for updates. 'We had our train cancelled this morning and we've been waiting most of the day for Eurostar to make alternative arrangements,' they said, adding that they were planning to fly to Spain from Gatwick instead. By 4 PM, some semblance of order had returned to the station, with one train to Brussels departing with only a 35-minute delay. French police have launched a formal investigation. Forensic teams were deployed near Mont-de-Terre station, where the theft occurred along tracks between Lille and Lezennes. The French regional rail network, TER Hauts-de-France, confirmed that cable specialists worked throughout the day to install replacements. According to SNCF, the national rail operator, the repairs required reconnecting approximately 15 wires within each cable, 'meticulous work,' a spokesperson noted. The disruption comes on the heels of another incident in the Netherlands, where a power outage affecting around 30 rail cables disrupted service near Schiphol Airport, just 50km from the NATO summit in The Hague. Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel suggested the possibility of sabotage, telling reporters: 'The question is who is behind it. It can be an activist group, it can be a country.' Wednesday's incident follows a deadly Tuesday on the same Lille-Paris route, when two unrelated fatalities led to day-long shutdowns. Similar rail sabotage was reported in Spain last month, where stolen signal cable disrupted tens of thousands of journeys during a busy holiday weekend. As investigations continue, security concerns are mounting around key infrastructure, particularly with international events such as the NATO summit drawing geopolitical attention.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
French cable theft disrupts Eurostar trips between London and Paris
More than 600 metres of cable along train tracks has been stolen in northern France, wrecking havoc for Eurostar trips between London and Paris. French railway operator, SNCF, said "more than 600 metres of cable were stolen or severed south of the Lille Europe station" on Wednesday, local time, between the two European capitals. About 15 workers, including cable layers, were dispatched to solve the issue, but repairs were expected to take a good part of the day, the operator added. In Lille's southern district of Mont-de-Terre, AFP saw workers in orange vests placing cables back along the railway. They worked to reconnected dozens of multicoloured cables one by one inside thick tubes. Contacted by AFP, the police did not immediately provide more details on the cable theft. The Eurostar website showed that six trips between London and Paris — three in each direction — were cancelled on Wednesday, while other trains were still expected to run. Several trips between London and Brussels were also delayed. "Due to a cable theft near Lille Europe, our trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations," Eurostar said, advising passengers to cancel or postpone their trip free of charge. It was the second day of disruptions after "two persons struck by trains near Lille Europe" upset traffic on Tuesday evening. Eurostar spokeswoman Juliette Clement told AFP trains were for the moment "being redirected via secondary routes, which increases travel times". Several passengers took to social media platforms to vent their frustration. "My journey out was cancelled due to 'technical difficulties'. Return now cancelled due to a fatality," one user who appeared to be in Paris wrote on Tuesday evening. "My rescheduled train is cancelled again. No seats today Paris to London," they added in a new post on Wednesday morning. SNCF said about 10 high-speed train trips between Lille and the French capital had also been cancelled. At the train station in Lille, 51-year-old Belgian holiday-maker Marie-Line Ponville was deeply disappointed. She and her daughter had been planning to board a ship in Marseille for a week-long cruise around the Mediterranean but look likely to miss the boat's departure. AFP
LeMonde
3 days ago
- LeMonde
Eurostar trains canceled after cables were cut in northern France
The theft of cables along train tracks in northern France on Wednesday, June 25, disrupted Eurostar trips between London and Paris for a second day in a row, the company and French railway operator said. Overnight, "more than 600 meters of cable were stolen or severed south of the Lille Europe station" on the way between the two capitals, French railway operator SNCF said. "The impact is essentially on high-speed train traffic," it added. Around 15 workers, including cable layers, were dispatched to solve the issue, but repairs were expected to take a good part of the day, the operator added. In Lille's southern area of Mont-de-Terre, Agence France-Presse (AFP) saw workers in orange vests placing cables back along the railway. They worked to reconnect dozens of multicoloured cables one by one inside thick tubes. Contacted by AFP, the police did not immediately provide more details on the cable theft. The Eurostar website showed that six trips between London and Paris – three in each direction – were canceled on Wednesday, while other trains were still expected to run. Several trips between London and Brussels were delayed. "Due to a cable theft near Lille Europe, our trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations," Eurostar said, advising passengers to cancel or postpone their trip free of charge. It was the second day of disruptions after "two persons struck by trains near Lille Europe" upset traffic on Tuesday evening. Eurostar spokeswoman Juliette Clement told AFP trains were for the moment "being redirected via secondary routes, which increases travel times." SNCF said around 10 high-speed train trips between Lille and the French capital had also been cancelled.
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Cable theft in north France disrupts Eurostar traffic
LILLE, France: The theft of cables along train tracks in northern France on Wednesday (Jun 25) disrupted Eurostar trips between London and Paris for a second day in a row, the company and French railway operator said. Overnight, "more than 600m of cable were stolen or severed south of the Lille Europe station" on the way between the two capitals, French railway operator SNCF said. "The impact is essentially on high-speed train traffic," it added. Around 15 workers, including cable layers, were dispatched to solve the issue, but repairs were expected to take a good part of the day, the operator added. In Lille's southern district of Mont-de-Terre, AFP saw workers in orange vests placing cables back along the railway. They worked to reconnect dozens of multicoloured cables one by one inside thick tubes. Contacted by AFP, the police did not immediately provide more details on the cable theft. The Eurostar website showed that six trips between London and Paris, three in each direction, were cancelled on Wednesday, while other trains were still expected to run. Several trips between London and Brussels were delayed. "Due to a cable theft near Lille Europe, our trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations," Eurostar said, advising passengers to cancel or postpone their trip free of charge. It was the second day of disruptions after "two persons struck by trains near Lille Europe" upset traffic on Tuesday evening. Eurostar spokeswoman Juliette Clement told AFP trains were for the moment "being redirected via secondary routes, which increases travel times". Several passengers took to X to vent their frustration. "My journey out was cancelled due to 'technical difficulties'. Return now cancelled due to a fatality," one user who appeared to be in Paris wrote on Tuesday evening. "My rescheduled train is cancelled again. No seats today Paris to London," they added in a new post on Wednesday morning. SNCF said around 10 high-speed train trips between Lille and the French capital had also been cancelled. At the train station in Lille, 51-year-old Belgian holidaymaker Marie-Line Ponville was deeply disappointed. She and her daughter had been planning to board a ship in Marseille for a week-long cruise around the Mediterranean, but it looked likely that they would miss the boat's departure.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Eurostar chaos as passengers warned to cancel or postpone holidays after deaths
Eurostar passengers heading out of London St Pancras International have been advised to change their journey to a different travel date after severe delays in France Eurostar passengers travelling today have been warned to cancel or postpone their trips as chaos erupted after two people were killed on the railway near Lille in France. Those travelling between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris were delayed for hours in both directions yesterday, with some having their trains called altogether and others facing long delays, yesterday. The knock on effects of the delays is still affecting travellers today. A Eurostar spokeswoman said on Tuesday: "Due to two persons struck by trains near Lille Europe, we've delays and cancellations to our services all evening. We apologise to everyone affected and advise changing your journey for a different travel date.' Now the French section is also facing more disruption today after cables were stolen and cut overnight in what the French authorities are calling a "a malicious act". And Eurostar confirmed: "All services between London, Brussels, and Paris are disrupted," a spokeswoman said. French rail company SNCF said: "SNCF Réseau has been the victim of a major act of malicious intent in Lille. "More than 600m of cable was stolen or cut south of Lille Europe station. The impacts are mainly on high-speed train traffic, departing from and arriving at Lille Europe and Lille Flandres. "TGV trains are being diverted as much as possible to the conventional line, but the line's capacity is limited and repairs are expected to take part of the day." The spokesman said around fifteen cable workers and specialist staff had been sent to the scene. Last February, 13 cables totalling several hundred meters were stolen from SNCF property in Lille, causing significant disruption to the network for an entire day. Many affected passengers are stuck at the Eurostar terminal at London's St Pancreas International.
