High-speed train (TGV) service in France, disrupted on Friday by several coordinated sabotage attacks, was restored today, but a return to normal is not expected until Monday.
The information was provided by the French railway company (SNCF), which said in a statement that the transportation of all teams participating in the Olympic Games in Paris, as well as accredited personnel, has been ensured.
The Est axis, which covers the lines from Paris to Luxembourg and Strasbourg, has been operating normally since 6.30am local time, but the same is not true for the Atlantique and Nord, which were also hit by attacks in which signalling equipment on the high-speed train lines was set on fire.
The Northern Corridor, which connects Paris with Lille, London, Brussels, the Netherlands and northern Germany, runs 70% of the normal trains, but with delays of one to two hours because of the detour they have to make along the normal line.
Today, only a third of regular trains run on it.
70% of the high-speed trains on the Atlantic Corridor lines, which connect Paris with Brittany and other destinations in south-west France such as Bordeaux, Toulouse or the Spanish border of the Basque Country, are also in service.
It was this corridor that suffered the most on Friday, as work could only begin in the afternoon and then only partially.
According to statements from an SNCF spokesman to the EFE news agency, “a return to normal life is expected on Monday”, with an estimated 250,000 people affected on Friday.
The fourth main axis of the French TGV, the South-East, running from Paris to Lyon, Marseille or Barcelona, was not affected by sabotage, although an attempt was made.
SNCF workers surprised a group of people who fled in a van after attempting to set fire to signalling infrastructure.
Authorities have not provided details on the progress of the investigations, which are centralised at the Paris prosecutor’s office and coordinated by the Sub-Directorate of Anti-Terrorist Police (SDAT).
Government officials chose not to speculate on the possibility circulating in the media that these were the actions of a far-left group.
Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete and SNCF President Jean-Pierre Farandou are expected to provide further information on the full restoration of the service this morning.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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