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Rail sabotage: What to expect if you’re travelling in France this weekend

France's rail network was on Friday hit with an apparently coordinated series of arson attacks with rail bosses saying disruption will continue over the weekend. Here's a look at the latest, plus updates on road and air travel.

Published: 26 July 2024 16:08 CEST

Passengers wait for train departures in Bordeaux, western France

Passengers wait for train departures in Bordeaux, following overnight arson attacks on the network. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP)

Friday saw enormous disruption on the railways after a series of arson attacks on France’s key high-speed rail lines – find the latest here.

SNCF said that the travel plans of at least 800,000 passengers have been disrupted on Friday alone, while the transport minister announced that up to 50 percent of services on affected lines would have to be cancelled.

A quarter of Eurostar services between Paris and London were cancelled on Friday.

And the disruption is set to continue over the weekend – the arson attacks involved setting fire to “conduits carrying multiple (fibre-optic) cables” that relay “safety information for drivers” or control the motors for points that change rails.

SNCF’s CEO said: “There’s a huge number of bundled cables. We have to repair them one by one, it’s a manual operation” requiring “hundreds of workers”.

Attaque massive visant la SNCF : un incendie volontaire sur une "artère de câbles" à Vandières paralyse le trafic des TGV Est
➡️ https://t.co/Dh5YQ9FEgB pic.twitter.com/KtDZoZEDCi

— France Bleu (@francebleu) July 26, 2024

SNCF says services are expected to return to normal by Monday on most lines, but disruption will continue over the weekend.

Anyone planning to travel should check the latest on the SNCF information site here, or download the SNCF Connect app.

On Friday two in three trains were being cancelled on certain lines, and cancellations are likely to continue over the weekend. Services could also be rescheduled or delayed.

The disruption is mostly affecting the high-speed TGV routes in and out of Paris. Local lines are not directly affected but may suffer knock-on disruption.

West and south-west France – this is the most severely affected with no trains out of Gare Montparnasse at all on Friday morning.

Services restarted in the afternoon but only with around a third of the normal trains. Cancellations will continue but at least some services will run on this route over the weekend – although passengers who can postpone their journey are advised to do so. Those services that do run are expected to be very busy.

This affects services to the south-west including Bordeaux and Toulouse, and also the west including Brittany and Normandy lines.

East – trains between Paris and Lille and Paris and Arras are severely disrupted, including the Eurostar which uses the Paris-Lille high-speed tracks.

There are fewer cancellations on this line as trains are being diverted onto the slower local lines, although this is extending journey times by around two hours. On Friday a quarter of Eurostar services between London and Paris were cancelled.

South-east – the TGV Sud-Est axis, running between Paris and Lyon and onwards to Switzerland and Italy was not affected by the sabotage as an arson attack in this area was foiled. Services are running largely as normal with some knock-on disruption.

Paris public transport is not affected by the sabotage although some services in the city centre are closed or diverted due to Olympics security protocols – more details here.

Roads

Sadly, things might not be much better on France’s roads this weekend – and the rail disruption seems certain only to make an already difficult travel weekend even worse. The French ride-share app BlaBlaCar said it had seen an 88 percent increase in bookings on Friday as people scrambled for an alternative to the train.

This weekend is France’s traditional ‘cross-over’ weekend for 2024. The chassé-croisé happens each year during the final weekend in July, is the annual moment when July holidaymakers start to return home while the August holidaymakers head off for their big summer getaways.

France’s traffic watchdog, Bison Futé, predicted that traffic will be heavy on Friday, with extremely difficult traffic conditions on the roads on Saturday, while Sunday will be slightly calmer.

Airports

The worst of the global IT outage appears to be over, but no one’s even going to attempt to deny that French airports are very busy at this time of year – it’s the world’s most popular tourist destination at the most popular tourist time of the year.

And airports in the Paris region, in particular, are gearing up for an especially busy period, with thousands of Olympic Games fans expected over the next couple of weeks.

From 6.30pm until 12 midnight (CET) on Friday, July 26th, a no-fly zone will be in place within a 150km radius of the French capital for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

This will mean flights will be interrupted at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG), Orly airports, and Beauvais airports – this should have little effect on travel plans as airlines have adapted their schedules, having been notified of the no-fly security perimeter in 2023.

Flight resume as normal at 00.01am on Saturday and there are no expected disruptions over the weekend.

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Travel warnings for Americans in France and vice versa

Most countries offer some travel advice for their citizens, and the US and France are no exception – although both countries stress the “friendly relations” between the two nations, they offer advice for Americans travelling to France, or French people travelling to the US.

People with a good knowledge of both countries might think that some of the warnings are rather harsh, and paint an exaggerated picture of the country, but here is the official advice.

Risks in France

The US State Department says that “relations between the United States and France are active and friendly”, but the country was still placed on the second level of out of the four ‘travel advisory levels’, this means that Americans should “exercise increased caution” when visiting.

The state department country page for France – which was last updated in September 2024 – notes that this is “due to terrorism and civil unrest”.

Terrorism

US authorities warn that “terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in France”.

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas,” the warn.

This is a fair advisory. In November 2015, France experienced its most deadly coordinated terrorist attack, where 130 people were killed, including 90 at the Bataclan concert hall. ISIS eventually claimed responsibility.

Recent attacks include the stabbing of three people in Paris 15th arrondissement in December 2023 by a man with psychiatric issues, as well as the murder of three Kurdish activists in Paris in October 2023, and notably the stabbing of a teacher in northern France by a man with ties to Islamist extremism.

The US government also warns that: “French police and military routinely patrol public spaces. You should expect security inspections (to include purses, bags, and backpacks) at the entrance to large public venues and businesses.”

Protests and strikes

Strikes and demonstrations in the streets are just a part of daily life in France, but the US government urges its citizens to take them seriously or better yet, avoid them altogether.

This piece of advice might invite some mockery from the French. Strikes and protests are so common in France that they can be pretty tricky to avoid entirely, especially if you live here.

Still, US authorities warn that “demonstrations can be unpredictable”, and that “French authorities may use chemical agents [tear gas] and water cannons to disperse crowds”.

While it’s true that trouble can flare up at protests, this tends to be from a small minority, usually at the end of the demo and not directed at uninvolved passers-by. Marches are often concentrated in the big cities, especially Paris, with routes published in advance so that you can stay away.

Strikes can certainly be disruptive, but it’s worth remembering that they usually delay and disrupt travel, rather than halting it altogether.

The US Embassy in France advises keeping an eye on local media (like The Local France) for updates. We couldn’t agree more – you can find our strike section here.

Crime

US authorities warn that “the majority of crimes directed against foreign visitors, including US citizens, involve pick-pocketing (passports, phones, cash, credit cards), vehicle and residential break-ins, bicycle theft, and other forms of theft.”

Pickpocketing can certainly be a problem, especially in Paris where you will regularly hear announcements on the Metro saying: “Des pickpockets peuvent être présents en station ou à bord des trains” (Pickpockets may be present at the station or on trains).

The advice is common sense – keep an eye on your belongings and lock up valuables.

The US Embassy in France also warns that visitors should be aware of ‘date-rape’ drugs, which are present in France. As such, you should “be cautious in bars and clubs where alcohol is served, and do not leave your drink unattended or accept a drink from strangers, as they may have slipped drugs into the drink.”

Travelling with a disability

Even though Paris hosted the Paralympic Games in 2024, accessibility in the capital – and the country at large – remains poor.

US authorities note that French law does prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities, but travellers with disabilities should “expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation and general infrastructure” adding: “Visitors to France should expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation (subway, specifically), lodging, communication/information, and general infrastructure.

“Getting around French cities can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Many sidewalks are narrow and uneven, and cobblestone streets make access difficult, though major tourist sites generally have better facilities.”

While there have been efforts to improve accessibility – and leaders of the Paris region recently signed onto a plan that would make the Paris Metro system fully accessible in the next 20 years, the capital city is still a long way from being easy to get around for those with disabilities.

French drivers and public transport

Aggressive drivers are a common complaint from foreigners in France, especially those in rural areas.

US authorities seem to agree (at least a little bit). They warn that “lane markings and sign placements may not be clear. Drivers should be prepared to make last-minute manoeuvers” and that “right-of-way rules differ from those in the United States.”

While French drivers might be used to the busyness on the roads, especially in cities, with motorcycles and mopeds interweaving in traffic, Americans should be cautious.

“Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, and electric skateboards are prevalent on streets, crosswalks and sometimes sidewalks. They have legal priority and often do not respect traffic signals,” the Embassy warns.

They also extend their road-related recommendations for pedestrians, saying they “should be cautious and aware of traffic even when they have a green walking signal since this is no guarantee against aggressive drivers.”

“Do not assume cars will stop for pedestrians on a crosswalk.”

Flying a drone

During the Olympic Games, the former French PM, Gabriel Attal, said that six drones were intercepted a day, but most of these were simply from “tourists wanting to take pictures”.

Those unlucky tourists found themselves under arrest, because the use of drones and drone footage is highly regulated in France.

The US Embassy warns visitors that “it is against the law in France to operate drones over public spaces (including museums, parks, streets) in urban areas and near airports, military bases, prisons, nuclear plants, and large gatherings such as outdoor concerts and parades.”

Failing to follow these rules can lead to hefty fines and even imprisonment. Thankfully, The Local has a helpful guide on what you need to know about flying a drone in France.

Risks in the United States

But travel warnings go both ways, and France has its own tips for US-bound French citizens.

Weather warnings

Americans can probably agree with the first piece of advice on France’s France’s recommendations page for travellers headed to the US.

It starts off with detailed advice about natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, forest fires and flooding. They list the radio channels that give weather updates for states on the Gulf of Mexico, where hurricanes are common.

Dangerous US cities

French authorities start off by saying “the United States is one of the safest countries in the world” – but then include a section on the cities and areas where tourists should exercise heightened caution.

The cities listed include nearly all large American metropolitan areas, from Los Angeles and San Francisco, to Chicago and Detroit, and east-coast cities like Boston, New York City, Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

To be fair to the French, the warning is not a blanket advisory to avoid these places. Instead, French authorities dive into the specific neighbourhoods that ought to be avoided at nighttime, as well as the types of crime that are common.

For example, they warn that in San Francisco, families should avoid certain streets in the centre of the city, notably the Tenderloin district known for open-air drug use.

They also note an “increase in car-jackings in most large American cities, involving violence and threats, sometimes with weapons.” US news outlets have also reported on this.

Interacting with police

The French advice for dealing with police is to “not to make false statements, not to raise your voice, and to avoid brusque or aggressive gestures.”

This advice is likely related to the issue of police brutality and officer-involved shootings in the United States (although of course police violence is also present in France).

Avoid opioids

The opioid crisis has been an ongoing issue in the United States, and French authorities are aware of it. Overdose rates have tripled in the past decade in the United States, and the presence of fentanyl has played a large role in that.

French authorities warn that ‘classic drugs’ (ie cocaine and heroin) are increasingly cut with synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, and that fentanyl “can be present in counterfeit medications, such as Xanax or oxycodone.”

They warn that “if you need pain medication, you should go to your local pharmacy and purchase an FDA-approved medication. Under no circumstances should you accept any pills that you do not buy from a pharmacy.”

No tolerance for jokes

When travelling by airplane, French authorities advise that people “answer the questions asked by employees seriously and precisely and to avoid making jokes about the contents of your baggage, as any ambiguous attitude could result in very serious problems with the security services (which could lead to incarceration).”

They also warn that “security measures taken by airlines, at the request of the American authorities, are likely to extend the time required for checks. It is recommended to make the necessary arrangements to get to the airport well in advance”.

On the topic of humour, French authorities recommend “[adopting] reserved attitude towards people of the opposite sex. Complaints of sexual harassment can also be made against minors.”

Better to leave your pick-up lines at home, Frenchies.

Prudish dress

In previous versions of the French advice page, visitors were warned that topless bathing is strictly forbidden in the US, even for little girls.

They seem to have dropped this line in the 2024 version, they did warn that “children, including babies, must wear a swimming costume (changing an infant or breast-feeding in public can be shocking in some places).”

Still, they did say Americans are “very tolerant” when it comes to dress. A backhanded compliment? Who can say . . .

Don’t freak out about guns

In their general advice, French authorities say: “In many states, the possession of firearms is authorised and commonplace. Visitors should therefore remain calm and composed in all circumstances.”

Expensive healthcare

Under the health section, French authorities gave a warning that Americans know all-too-well: “Medical infrastructure in the United States is excellent, but very expensive.”

As such, they recommend French visitors take out a travel health insurance plan to cover all medical expenses, warning that “under no circumstances will these costs be covered by the local French embassy or consulate general.”

What do you think of these warnings? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments below.

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