The discovery of World War Bombs disrupts trains – DW – 03/07/2025

An unploded bomb of the Second World War disrupted rail traffic to and from Gare de northern Paris, officials announced on Friday.

The bomb was found “near the tracks” during night maintenance work in the suburbs of Saint Denis, about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mile) from the station, the France National Rail Company said in a statement.

Paris Suburban Rail Company wrote on X that the explosive came from the era of the Second World War.

Later in the day, the Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, announced that the stripping operations were “finally finished, they went well”.

He added that the bomb “contained 200 kilograms of explosives”.

The rail service at Paris Gare du Nord Gare will gradually resume 1,700 GMT, said the minister.

Disturbed railway trip

The Gare du Nord is located north of Paris and is the busiest train terminal in the country, welcoming Eurostar trains as well as high -speed and local trains.

All train traffic to the station was interrupted while local police were working to deactivate the explosive.

Tabarot warned that rail traffic at Gare du Nord would “strongly disrupted all day” on Friday.

The Eurostar website said all Eurostar trains in Paris have been canceled.

“Please change your trip for a different travel date,” he advised travelers.

“Traffic is completely interrupted and from Gare du Nord.

“Please change your trip for another travel date.”

The Eurostar services in London in Brussels and London in Amsterdam, which do not go through Paris, worked normally, said the company.

It is estimated that 700,000 people travel via the North Gard daily, according to France’s Railway Company.

Major Paris Ring Road has also closed its doors

Friday, the Paris road network was also disrupted by the bomb.

The sections of the A1 motorway were closed, as well as parts of an annular route around the French capital, while the police worked to disarm the bomb.

The bombs left from the two world wars are regularly discovered around France, however, they are not normally found in thick places.

Edited by Sean Sinico