French police officers and state rail company SNCF employees are working to repair the damage caused by vandals who disrupted high-speed train lines overnight. The incidents occurred at various locations, including Courtalain, around 160 kilometers southwest of Paris on the impacted Atlantic line.
At Courtalain, the extent of the damage is evident, with charred cables in a shallow trough and fire-damaged protective paving slabs strewn about. The SNCF described the events as a 'targeted criminal sabotage operation' that occurred around 4 a.m. on Friday morning.
SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou revealed that the vandals set fire to cables crucial for the security of train drivers and also engaged in cable theft. The process of repairing the damage involves reconnecting and testing each cable individually before train services can resume.
Efforts are underway to expedite the repair work, with authorities working diligently to restore the affected train lines. The Paris prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation into the incidents, cautioning that those responsible could face severe penalties, including lengthy jail sentences and significant fines.
