Eurostar services to and from London, along with other trains traveling north from Paris, came to a standstill on Friday after an unexploded bomb from World War II was found near the tracks serving the busy Gare du Nord station, reports AP.
France’s national railway operator, SNCF, stated that train traffic was halted at the request of the police.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned that travel would be "strongly disrupted" throughout the day, with only limited services resuming in the afternoon, and advised passengers to delay their journeys.
The bomb was discovered at around 4 a.m. by workers conducting earth-moving operations near the tracks in the Seine-Saint-Denis region. Minesweepers were deployed to the site, and their operation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, stranded passengers gathered at the station as it opened on Friday.
Gare du Nord is a key European transit hub, connecting Paris to international destinations north of France, including Brussels and the Netherlands, as well as the city’s main airport and numerous regional locations.
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While unexploded bombs from World War I and World War II are frequently uncovered across France, finding one in such a densely populated area is highly unusual.
Speaking on broadcaster Sud Radio, Tabarot reassured local residents and those near the train station that there was “no fear” of an explosion, emphasising that proper procedures were in place for defusing and removing the bomb.
Eurostar, which operates passenger trains through the Channel Tunnel between Britain and mainland Europe, cancelled all services between London and Paris on Friday morning and advised travellers to reschedule their trips.
Friday is among the busiest days of the week at Eurostar’s London terminal, St. Pancras Station, with thousands of passengers departing and arriving for weekend getaways.
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Trains between London and Eurostar’s other major destination, Brussels, remained unaffected.