Train service accelerates in northern France upon restart of high-speed journeys, following the suspension of Eurostar trains
Eurostar Services Resume After Two-Day Disruption in Northern France
Two days of disruptions on Eurostar services in northern France have come to an end, following the completion of repair work on an overhead power cable on the high-speed line between Moussy and Longueil. The exact cause of the electrical fault remains unclear, with both SNCF and Eurostar reporting the issue without specifying whether it was due to technical failure, damage, or external causes.
The fault led to the cancellation of at least 17 Eurostar trains connecting Paris with London and other continental Europe destinations on Monday. Trains were diverted onto slower, classic non-high-speed routes, causing severe delays of up to two hours for passengers.
However, Tuesday saw a decrease in cancellations, with only three Paris-London services being cancelled. High-speed services resumed in the region, although initially only one track was operational for both directions until full restoration.
The incident comes after previous disruptions in June linked to the theft of cables on train tracks in northern France, but no direct link to cable theft was confirmed for this particular fault.
Eurostar is a joint venture between SNCF, Belgian railways, Quebec investment fund CDPQ, and US fund manager Federated Hermes. SNCF holds a majority shareholding in the company.
Despite the resumption of high-speed services, there were still delays on other trains, although not as severe as Monday's disruptions. The cause of the electrical fault on the line remains unknown.
In recent months, this incident marks the second significant disruption caused by cable theft on train tracks in northern France. However, no new information about the cause of the cable theft was provided.
References:
- BBC News
- The Guardian
- France 24
- The art of high-speed transportation was disrupted when news of a two-day power cable issue on the Eurostar line broke.
- The financial implications of the Eurostar disruption may extend to the automotive industry, as delays in transportation can impact car manufacturing and distribution.
- Amidst these disruptions, the public-transit sector in Europe has been under scrutiny, with questions raised about the infrastructure's resilience and maintenance.
- As the impact of the incident unfolded, several industry analysts speculated on the potential impact on the world's transportation industry, given the crucial role played by Eurostar in international travel.
