Train services to and from Paris’ Gare du Nord station were significantly disrupted on Friday following the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb near the tracks in the Saint-Denis area. The ordnance was uncovered around 4:00 am during overnight maintenance work, prompting immediate suspension of rail traffic.
We invite travellers to postpone their trip.
France’s national train operator SNC
The discovery led to the suspension of all train services at the request of the police, affecting both local and international routes, including Eurostar and TGV lines. Eurostar advised passengers to postpone their journeys, stating that trains would be “strongly disrupted” throughout the day, with limited service expected to resume in the afternoon.
At least four Eurostar trains scheduled to depart from Gare du Nord on Friday morning were cancelled, with thousands of passengers affected. Travellers were advised to reschedule their trips, and Eurostar offered free ticket exchanges.
Importante file d'attente à Gare du Nord pour espérer prendre un Eurostar.
— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) March 7, 2025
Le trafic des trains est entièrement interrompu après la découverte d'une bombe de la Seconde Guerre mondiale au milieu des voies. pic.twitter.com/o0mzzOxmAO
Safety measures and ongoing operations
Bomb disposal experts were dispatched to the site in Saint-Denis, approximately 2.5 kilometres from Gare du Nord, to neutralise the device. A security perimeter was established, and the area was evacuated to ensure public safety. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot reassured the public, stating, “Procedures are in place to defuse and remove such bombs safely.”
Unexploded ordnance from World War II is still occasionally found in France, though discoveries in densely populated urban areas like Paris are rare. The bomb is believed to be a remnant from the April 1944 raid on Paris-La Chapelle, during which Allied forces targeted Nazi-occupied areas, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.
voilà la bombe(300kg) découverte cette nuit lors des travaux ferroviaires. pic.twitter.com/zNpRSuRBWC
— Fabien Villedieu (@VilledieuFabien) March 7, 2025
Passenger advisory
Travellers planning to use services to or from Gare du Nord are advised to check the latest updates from train operators and consider postponing their journeys. Eurostar has offered free exchanges and refunds for affected passengers.
As of midday Friday, efforts to safely defuse and remove the bomb were ongoing, with authorities working diligently to restore normal train services as swiftly as possible.
