Eurostar services between London and Paris are set to resume on Saturday after a significant disruption caused by an unexploded World War II bomb. The bomb, described as "excessively dangerous" by police, was discovered during construction work near train tracks in northern Paris, leading to the cancellation of all Eurostar trains on Friday.
The discovery of the 453-kilogram bomb prompted immediate action, with Eurostar halting all 32 trains scheduled for the day. This decision affected thousands of travelers, causing major delays and confusion at both London St Pancras and Paris’s Gare du Nord. Pictures showed long lines of frustrated passengers waiting for information as the situation unfolded.
Bomb disposal experts successfully moved the device to a safe location, where they were able to unscrew and destroy its fuse, a process that Christophe Pezron, head of the Paris bomb disposal department, described as reminiscent of scenes from movies. The bomb was found about two meters underground, and officials noted that such discoveries are not uncommon in France, although they are rare in densely populated areas like Paris.
French transport minister Philippe Tabarot reported that the disruption affected nearly 600,000 people and led to the cancellation of almost 500 trains across the region. While local train services and a major highway have since reopened, the impact on Eurostar services was significant, especially since Fridays are typically the busiest travel day for the operator.
Eurostar has announced plans to run a normal service on Saturday, including two extra trains to accommodate affected passengers. They are offering free exchanges for those whose travel plans were disrupted, allowing them to rebook for a later date.
Travelers expressed their frustration over the situation. Many were left scrambling for alternative travel options, with some considering flights to other destinations. Eurostar has apologized for the inconvenience and is working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.