French rail network restored after sabotage disrupts Olympic travel

By Merve Berker

France's high-speed train network resumed normal operations on Monday, three days after sabotage acts significantly disrupted travel ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony, according to the transport minister, the press reports said on Monday.

Patrice Vergriete confirmed that the coordinated arson attacks on Friday morning targeted key points of the rail infrastructure, according to local media outlets.

The incidents raised concerns as they occurred just before the grand opening.

However, authorities have yet to determine the perpetrators or whether the timing was intended to disrupt the event.

- Metro disruptions in Paris

In Paris, where the number of tourists is expected to reach 16 million during the Olympic Games, there were also disruptions to metro services.

According to an announcement on X by Paris' 8th metro line, services were disrupted at the Opera station due to police intervention. The reason for the intervention was not disclosed.

The line is used by visitors and tourists wanting to attend Olympic events.

According to France Bleu, a network of local and regional radio stations in France, services on the Paris 13th metro line, which connects Paris to the suburb of Saint-Denis, were suspended between 12.52 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. local time (1052-1230GMT) due to a serious passenger accident.

Six metro cars were stuck in tunnels and passengers in three of the cars disembarked, walking along the metro tracks to the nearest station.