Train services at Paris’s Gare du Nord came to a standstill on Friday due to the discovery of an unexploded World War Two bomb. This bomb was located on the tracks in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris, during overnight maintenance, prompting train companies to announce the suspension.
As a result, local trains and Eurostar routes between London and Paris, as well as Brussels, faced cancellations throughout the day. However, some Eurostar services, such as those connecting Brussels with Marne La Vallée and London, continued to operate as scheduled.
In a statement, Eurostar confirmed that all traffic was halted because of the bomb. They are allowing passengers to change their tickets for free to travel at a later date, depending on availability. The company expressed its sincere apologies for the disruption and understands the trouble this has caused travelers.
By 8:30 AM GMT, long lines began forming at St Pancras station in London as passengers sought alternative travel plans. Many were uncertain about their next steps. One group faced a two-and-a-half hour wait after their 07:00 GMT train was canceled. They decided to travel to Lille, planning to take a bus to Paris from there.
Others, like Ivana Koralek, canceled visits to family in France due to the train issues. She struggled to rebook a ticket because the machines weren’t offering her the original discount. Karen Hamblin, who traveled to London for her husband’s birthday celebration, was also affected. She was notified that their train was canceled early in the morning and chose to head to Lille instead, wishing to make lunch plans before figuring out how to reach Paris.
This incident highlights the challenges travelers can face when unexpected events disrupt transport services, but it also shows the flexibility offered by companies to help mitigate the impact on passengers.
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