Eurostar Travel Disrupted by Major Cable Theft in France Before NATO Summit

Passengers on Eurostar train services are being advised to either cancel or postpone their journeys following a significant theft of railway cables in France that poses a threat to travel amid the NATO summit being held in the Netherlands. Around 600 meters of cable were stolen or severed at Lille Europe station, a crucial hub for high-speed trains linking London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. On Wednesday, Eurostar alerted customers that the theft would likely cause severe delays and last-minute cancellations. ‘Our stations are very busy; we advise you to cancel or postpone your trip,’ the company stated as they warned of ongoing disruptions. Authorities have initiated an investigation, with forensic teams currently examining the scene in Lille. This incident has also raised concerns about potential sabotage related to the NATO meeting. Dutch justice minister David van Weel remarked on the possibility of the theft being linked to an activist group or even a state actor, given the timing and scale of the disruption. In light of the circumstances, Eurostar has encouraged travelers to change their trips or request full refunds. Their statement included hopes that services would resume by 3 PM, but it is expected that delays will persist into the early afternoon as the repair work is underway. The damage occurred along the track bordering Mont-de-Terre station, specifically impacting signal cables laid in surface gutters. The French regional train networks, TER Hauts-de-France, have deployed 15 cable installers to work on restoring the service, a task that involves meticulously connecting around 15 individual wires for each cable. Notably, these delays come after additional disruption on Tuesday, when two tragic incidents led to fatalities on the line between Lille and Paris, further halting service throughout the day. One passenger described his experience, stating that his train, which was scheduled to leave London at 3:30 PM, encountered a two-hour delay, only to return back to London after an extended stop. This event echoes a recent incident in Spain, where vital signaling cables were also stolen, resulting in significant travel delays for over 10,000 individuals. Such occurrences not only hamper everyday travel but raise flags about the security and integrity of rail networks across Europe during significant political events. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2