Paris's busiest train station shut after unexploded WWII-era bomb found on tracks

Train services at Paris' Gare du Nord were suspended after an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered on the tracks during overnight maintenance in the Saint-Denis suburb, officials confirmed. The device was found in the middle of the tracks, prompting immediate safety measures and the shutdown of all train operations to and from the station.

The disruption affected major rail services, including high-speed TGV and Eurostar routes. Eurostar confirmed multiple morning departures were canceled for trains to London and Brussels. France’s national railway company, SNCF, advised passengers to delay their travel plans and check for updates as authorities worked to handle the situation.

SNCF announced that services at Gare du Nord would remain suspended until mid-morning following police instructions. "We invite travelers to postpone their trip," SNCF stated. Eurostar also issued a notice on its website, warning of disruptions and advising passengers to change their travel dates.

Gare du Nord, one of the busiest train stations in the world, serves approximately 700,000 passengers daily and operates major international and regional train services. The sudden halt led to widespread delays, with affected travelers waiting for further updates on the resumption of services.

Authorities have not confirmed the origins of the bomb, but unexploded ordnance from World War II is still occasionally found in Europe during construction and maintenance work. Police and bomb disposal teams continued operations to neutralize the device, with train services expected to resume once clearance is granted.