Eurostar, the high-speed rail service linking Britain and continental Europe, is grappling with significant delays for the second day in a row due to cable theft and two fatal incidents involving its trains near Lille, France. The operator reported ongoing disruptions, including delays and last-minute cancellations, urging travelers to either cancel or postpone their journeys.
The difficulties began on Tuesday following the tragic news that two people were struck by a train on the high-speed route between Lille and Paris. These events coincide with rising concerns about sabotage against European rail networks, which have faced multiple instances of vandalism, particularly related to cable theft. Notably, in May, over 10,000 passengers in Spain found themselves stranded due to similar issues when cables were taken.
Last July, cable arson struck again in France, damaging vital signal stations ahead of the Paris Olympics and emphasizing the vulnerabilities within the extensive French rail system. The motivation behind the latest cable theft remains unclear.
Aurelien Breeden contributed to this report. Amelia Nierenberg is a breaking news reporter at The Times in London, covering international developments.
