Discovery of a Bomb Near Gare du Nord: Gradual Return to Normal After a Day of Chaos

A World War II relic paralyzes rail traffic

On Friday, March 7, during track work in Saint-Denis, a World War II bomb, one meter long and containing 200 kg of explosives, was discovered. As a safety measure, train services were completely suspended at the departure and arrival points of Gare du Nord, affecting TGV, Eurostar, RER, and Transilien services. In total, nearly 500 trains and 600,000 passengers were impacted.

Successful Bomb Disposal Operation and Lifting of Restrictions

The bomb disposal operation, carried out cautiously, was completed in the afternoon, allowing for the gradual lifting of restrictions. Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport, announced the immediate reopening of the A1 motorway and a gradual resumption of rail traffic starting at 6:00 PM. SNCF expects near-normal train services to resume by 8:00 PM.

Consequences and Compensation Measures

The sudden interruption of services caused major disruptions: all Eurostar trains were canceled, and buses to destinations like Brussels and London were overwhelmed. Eurostar announced that passengers affected would be offered refunds or the possibility of rebooking, with additional trains scheduled for Saturday, March 8, to accommodate the surplus of travelers.

An Incident That Raises Concerns About Infrastructure Security

This exceptional event highlighted the vulnerability of major rail routes to the discovery of historical devices. The Minister of Transport discussed the need to strengthen control procedures during track work while praising the efficiency of the bomb disposal teams and transport services for their swift response to this unprecedented situation.

Thanks to this mobilization, the situation should normalize in the evening, allowing travelers to gradually resume their journeys.