The Discovery Of The Second World War Bomb Disrupts Paris Train Service

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Nijc Sokli

JAKARTA - The discovery of the Second World War bombing disrupted the busy Gare du Nord traffic in Paris, the world's third busiest train station.

The disruption affects commuter trains and national and international trains, including the Eurostar service.

The company's spokesman told Reuters that Eurostar plans to cancel all trains to and from Gare du Nord. Service operators advise travelers to reschedule their trip.

The bomb was found 2.5 km (1.55 miles) from Gare du Nord, in the middle of the rail, one of the network's railway lines.

Train traffic will remain disrupted until the mine clearing operation is complete.

Paris police said the bomb was found at 3.30 am in Saint-Denis, a suburb of northern Paris, during construction work. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot estimates the disruption will continue for at least the remainder of the day.

About 220 million passengers pass through Gare du Nord, Europe's busiest train station, every year, traveling to and from destinations in northern France, and London, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, according to Paris tourism offices.

Clemence Fadard, an interface designer in Paris, said the train at 6:20 a.m. to Amsterdam was initially delayed for 45 minutes before it was canceled.

"I've heard reports about these things happening from time to time," Fadard said, adding: "We're unlucky!"

Another traveler, Kasman Ibrahimi, said he had planned to board the train to Cologne in Germany from Gare du Nord but would now look for alternative routes.