Paris Trains Suspended After Unexploded WWII Bomb Discovered

• Mar 7, 2025

Train services in and out of Paris were disrupted on Friday after an unexploded World War Two bomb was found on the tracks leading to Gare du Nord station. The discovery led to the cancellation of all Eurostar services, a temporary closure of part of the city's main ring road, and the evacuation of nearby areas.

The 500kg bomb was uncovered overnight in the suburb of Saint-Denis during railway maintenance work. As a precaution, authorities evacuated homes within a 500-meter (1,600-foot) radius and shut down sections of the Paris circular Périphérique and the A1 motorway near Porte de la Chapelle. The disruption caused severe traffic congestion, with reports of 218km of road gridlock in the region.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that local train services at Gare du Nord would not resume before late afternoon at the earliest. "A bomb disposal team is on-site, and there is nothing to worry about," he reassured. He added that if given clearance by authorities, some train services could resume after 16:00 (15:00 GMT). Eurostar expected operations to return to normal on Saturday.

The discovery site was approximately 200 meters from the busy Paris ring road and 2.5km (1.5 miles) north of Gare du Nord, Europe’s busiest train station. Several high-speed TGV trains were also affected, with some rerouted to Gare de Lyon. Meanwhile, Eurostar services between London and Brussels, London and Amsterdam, and Brussels and Marne-la-Vallée remained operational.

Authorities in Saint-Denis confirmed that six schools and a care facility for the elderly fell within the evacuation zone but were not at risk due to their location. The railyards around occupied Paris were frequent targets of Allied bombings during World War Two, according to BBC correspondent Hugh Schofield.

The disruption left many travelers stranded. Eurostar announced that affected passengers could exchange their tickets free of charge for a later date, subject to availability. Additionally, the service planned to run two extra trains on Saturday—one from London to Paris in the morning and another returning in the afternoon.

By 08:30 GMT on Friday, long queues formed at London’s St Pancras station as passengers sought alternative travel plans. One group, facing a two-and-a-half-hour wait, opted to take a train to Lille and continue to Paris via a three-hour bus ride.

Many travelers expressed frustration over the cancellations. Jess Sayer from Norwich, celebrating her 40th birthday in Paris with her husband and best friend, struggled to find a way home. "We’re frantically searching for options," she said, noting that flights were fully booked. "Do we risk waiting for the Eurostar tomorrow, or do we look into ferries?"

Sarah Fitzgerald, another affected passenger, was hoping to return to London in time to help prepare for a family funeral on Monday. The timing also coincided with Paris Fashion Week, causing disruptions for fashion industry professionals. Personal shopper Anna Griffiths missed a major event at Chloé Fashion House, while Ivana Koralek canceled her trip to visit family due to ticketing issues.

Karen Hamblin, from Chester, had planned a three-day getaway to celebrate her husband's birthday. After their train was canceled early on Friday morning, she and her husband decided to reroute their trip through Lille. "Lunch in Lille first, then we’ll figure out how to reach Paris," she said.

With clearance operations completed, services were expected to gradually resume, bringing relief to stranded passengers and easing traffic congestion in the French capital.