Chaos for Eurostar passengers: All trains suspended after WW2 bomb found on the tracks

All Eurostar trains have been suspended after a World War II bomb was found on railway tracks in France.

Chaos has ensued for passengers at Gare du Nord in Paris this morning as all trains have been halted after relic was found near St Denis. 

The unexploded World War II bomb was discovered amid works near the Parisien suburb at around 4am this morning. 

Droves of passengers packed in the train station amid the travel chaos have been pictured at the major railway station, as they await updates.

All railway travel, including RER, regional, Eurostar and TGV services have been suspended, local media has reported, with all trains in the Paris to London direction cancelled until mid-day.

French transport minister Philippe Tabarot told broadcaster Sud Radio that trains will be ‘strongly disrupted’ throughout the day, with only a limited service resuming in the afternoon. 

A bomb squad – who have been working on the scene since 6am – are assessing the ongoing situation, French railway company SNCF confirmed. 

‘It was found overnight in Saint Denis,’ said a local railway line spokesman, referring to the town just north of the French capital. 

The unexploded World War II bomb was discovered amid works near the Parisien suburb of St Denis yesterday (Pictured: More disrupted travellers)

Impacted travellers stare at the information screen this morning as travel from Gare du Nord, Paris, is suspended

‘The site of the bomb is around two kilometers [less than two miles] from Gare du Nord, so the decision was taken to shut the line in both directions.

‘All services have been cancelled, and there are currently long delays. A bomb disposal squad is at the scene, and attempting to make it safe.’

The area has been evacuated, and people are being warned not to go near the site, the source has said.

Railway service SNCF confirmed travel from the major French railway station would be halted until mid-morning at request of police, urging passengers to reschedule their trips today.

‘We invite travellers to postpone their trip,’ they said. 

Eurostar echoed their announcement, adding: ‘Due to an object on the tracks near Paris Gare du Nord, we are expecting disruption to our services this morning. 

‘Please change your journey for a different date of travel’

Eurostar is giving passengers whose trains have been cancelled the option of either requesting a refund or voucher for the value of their booking, or to re-book for travel on an alternative service. 

Eurostar service to and from Brussels have not been impacted. 

Impacted travellers took to X to express their shock, with one quipping: ‘WW2 bomb was not high on the list of things I thought might disrupt my Eurostar journey from Paris this morning, but here we are…’

Passengers sit on the sidelines in the major railway station as they wait for updates 

‘The area has been evacuated, and people are being warned not to go near the area,’ a source have said

A Eurostar spokesperson said:  ‘Due to the discovery last night of an unexploded bomb from the Second World War during work carried out on the tracks in St Denis (North of Paris), traffic has been completely halted to and from Gare du Nord.

‘Traffic will only be able to resume once the mine clearance operations currently being organised by the specialised services of the Paris Police Prefecture have been completed.

‘Eurostar has informed its passengers and is encouraging them to travel on another day. 

‘Eurostar sincerely apologizes for the disruption and understands the inconvenience this may cause.

‘We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation during this time.’

The Gare du Nord is a major European transit hub, serving international destinations north of France as well as the main Paris airport and many regional commuters.

It was extensively used by occupying German forces during the Second World War, up until the liberation of Paris in 1944.

Before then, the area around it was regularly bombed by the RAF and the American Airforce, as were factories in the Paris suburbs.

The April 21st 1944 RAF raid on northern Paris specifically targeted railway junctions and tracks, in the build up to D-Day.

Coded radio messages from London to the French Resistance announced it with the words: ‘La Chapelle au clair de lune’, which means ‘La Chapelle in the moonlight’.

The bombing – which lasted two hours – was initially very precise, but smoke later led to many devices falling off target.

As was common at the time, a large number of bombs also failed to detonate.

All railway travel, including RER, regional, Eurostar and TGV services have been suspended until 10am, local media has reported (File image)

The exterior of Paris Gare du Nord Railway station, where travel chaos has ensued this morning

The 247 Avro Lancasters and 22 Mosquitos involved were part of the RAF’s 627th squadron.

In all, they dropped 2000 bombs, many of them close to La Plaine Saint-Denis, where the Stade de France has since been built.

A square close to where today’s bomb was found is today named ‘Place du 21 April 1944’ , in honour of the hundreds of civilian victims.

Ordnance from both World Wars is still regularly found around France, especially in building works, and is known as ‘the Iron Harvest’.

Bombs left over from World War I or World War II are regularly discovered around France but it is very rare to find them in such a people-packed location.