French train network hit by ‘malicious’ arson attacks hours before Olympics ceremony, rail firm says

Just hours before the Olympics ceremony, the French train network has been disrupted by what are being described as “malicious” arson attacks, affecting hundreds of thousands of travelers. Christophe Fanichet, the CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, stated that the disruptions are expected to impact 250,000 travelers today and 800,000 over the weekend. Despite this setback, the rail company is working to minimize the impact and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Fanichet emphasized that the South East branch of the rail network remains unaffected, providing some relief for travelers in that region. Efforts are underway to improve service on the North and East branches “step by step,” although travelers can expect delays of one and a half to two hours, with some trains canceled.

There will be no train services from Montparnasse station until 13:00 Paris time. The rail company is committed to keeping affected travelers informed through SMS and email and has assured that they will be reimbursed for any disruptions.

Fanichet urged travelers not to come to the stations unless they have received confirmation that their trains are operating. This approach aims to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother flow of information and assistance to those affected.