Eurostar Services Resume After WWII Bomb Causes Chaos in Paris
- paolo bibat
- Mar 8
- 2 min read
Eurostar trains between London and Paris are back on track this Saturday morning after a World War II bomb discovered near Paris’ Gare du Nord caused widespread travel disruptions on Friday. The unexploded 500-kilogram bomb, containing 200 kilograms of explosives, was unearthed during construction work in the Saint-Denis suburb, just 2.5 kilometers from the busy train station.
The discovery halted all train services to and from Gare du Nord, including Eurostar routes to London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Thousands of passengers were left stranded as authorities worked to safely defuse the bomb. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed late Friday that the operation was "finally over," allowing services to gradually resume.
The disruption caused significant chaos for travelers. At London’s St Pancras Station, passengers scrambled to rearrange their plans, with many expressing frustration over missed events and limited alternatives. “We’re looking up flights, but our options are limited,” said Lauren Romeo-Smith, who was traveling for a birthday weekend. Another traveler, Charlotte Kidd, remained hopeful about reaching Disneyland Paris for her 30th birthday: “We’ve got two hours. If not, we’ll try to get there some other way.”
The bomb was discovered around 4 a.m. on Friday by workers excavating near the train tracks as part of a bridge replacement project. A security perimeter was quickly established, and demining experts spent over 12 hours neutralizing the device. The operation also affected local rail services and road traffic, with parts of the A1 highway temporarily closed.
While unexploded ordnance from World War II is frequently found in France, it is rare for such devices to be discovered in densely populated areas like Saint-Denis. Gare du Nord is one of Europe’s busiest transit hubs, connecting international destinations and serving over 700,000 passengers daily.
Eurostar has announced that normal services between London and Paris will resume today, with additional trains scheduled to accommodate affected passengers. Domestic train routes in Paris have also restarted, and major roads have reopened following the successful disposal of the bomb.
“We’re delighted and relieved that all this has come to an end,” said Transport Minister Tabarot after the operation concluded. He reassured travelers that safety protocols were followed meticulously to prevent any risk to public safety.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the lingering remnants of World War II and their potential to disrupt modern life—even decades later. For now, passengers can breathe a sigh of relief as travel resumes across one of Europe’s key transportation corridors.
