Arson Attack Halts High-Speed Trains in France

Train services across France faced major disruption on Monday after an apparent arson attack damaged key railway cables near the southeastern city of Valence, forcing the suspension of around 100 high-speed journeys.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed that the cables had been intentionally set on fire overnight, severely impacting France’s busiest main line connecting Paris to Marseille.

The national railway operator, SNCF, reported that 16 cables were destroyed along a 25-meter section of track. Repairs are expected to continue through Monday evening, with full-service restoration anticipated by Tuesday morning.

Long queues formed at Paris’s Gare de Lyon station as passengers attempted to rebook canceled journeys to southern destinations, including Marseille and Barcelona. Travelers expressed frustration as staff worked to manage the backlog.

Authorities have not yet identified any suspects. 

The incident adds to a series of recent disruptions to France’s rail network, including cable thefts in northern France in June that affected Eurostar services, and the discovery of a 500-kilogram World War II bomb near Paris in March, which stranded thousands of passengers.