Travel across major European rail routes faced significant disruption on Tuesday, September 8th, as an incident near Paris Gare du Nord severely impacted both Eurostar and TGV services. According to the French railway operator SNCF, the disruption stems from a fatal accident involving a person that occurred during the early hours of the morning on the high-speed line connecting Paris and Lille.
The incident, which took place near Fresnoy-le-Luat in the Oise département, resulted in widespread cancellations and delays across the network. Passengers travelling between Paris and Brussels were among the most heavily affected, with some services experiencing delays of approximately three hours. Furthermore, several TGV services faced delays exceeding an hour, while secondary knock-on effects were reported for trains heading toward the Channel coast and Marseille.
Eurostar issued warnings to passengers regarding its cross-Channel services between Paris and London, as well as its routes between Paris and Brussels. Although initial live travel information suggested delays ranging from 30 to 60 minutes, some services ultimately faced more extensive wait times. The impact extended to inbound trains as well, with arrivals at Gare du Nord experiencing similar complications, leading to further delays for passengers with connecting travel plans.
Authorities have cautioned that the disruption is likely to persist even after the railway line is reopened, as the incident has created a knock-on effect that will continue to impact later train schedules throughout the day.
