PARIS — Hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday, part of France’s high-speed rail network was paralyzed by a “massive attack” that disrupted service for hundreds of thousands of passengers, officials said.
“Coordinated malicious acts targeted several TGV lines last night and will seriously disrupt traffic until this weekend,” French Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said in a post on X on Friday morning.
“I strongly condemn these criminal actions which will compromise the departures on vacation of many French people,” he said.
In a separate interview with French broadcaster BFMTV, Vergriete said the disruptions, which he said unfolded simultaneously, appeared to be intentional. It was unclear who might be responsible.
France’s national rail operator, SNCF, called the incident a “massive attack” that had affected several lines.
In comments broadcast by BFMTV, Jean-Pierre Farandou, chairman and CEO of SNCF, said at least 800,000 passengers were affected.
“We are so sorry to not be able to circulate the trains expected,” he added. “The celebration is spoiled.”
SNCF said it was working to restore service following the incident as it urged passengers to postpone their travel plans and “not go to the station.”
It said all tickets would be exchangable and refundable and that passengers would be informed of updates via text.
Nancy Ing reported from Paris and Chantal Da Silva from London.
Jean-Nicholas Fievet contributed.