On Monday, October 27, 2025, a wave of disruption swept across southeastern France’s high-speed rail network after a coordinated arson attack crippled key signalling infrastructure on the TGV line between Avignon and Lyon. The deliberate fires, described by officials as an act of sabotage, forced the cancellation of dozens of trains and left thousands of travelers scrambling for alternatives at the start of a busy travel week.
According to reports from The Local France and other French media, the attack unfolded in the early hours, with flames gutting crucial signal cables that manage the flow of high-speed trains along one of Europe’s busiest passenger corridors. SNCF, the national rail operator, confirmed that the incident was intentional, labeling it as a targeted act of arson rather than a case of cable theft—a problem that has plagued French railways in recent years due to soaring copper prices.
“Last night, railway cables were deliberately set on fire… These unacceptable acts of vandalism are severely disrupting traffic,” stated Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot on X (formerly Twitter), as cited by The Connexion. He emphasized the seriousness of the attack, adding, “SNCF Réseau teams are fully mobilised to restore service as quickly as possible. The police are on the scene: the perpetrators of this sabotage must be identified and severely punished.”
The fires were set along separate stretches of track near Valence, specifically in Alixan and Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence, according to local reports. In Alixan, approximately five meters of cables were burned, while in Saint-Marcel-lès-Valence, the blaze damaged not only cables but also transport vehicles and a rail excavator. Authorities have not yet released any information about potential suspects or motives, but the pattern of damage left little doubt about the deliberate nature of the act.
The consequences for rail travelers were immediate and severe. Several dozen TGV trains—both OuiGo and InOui variants—were cancelled, with services to major southern cities like Marseille, Avignon, Nice, and Montpellier especially hard hit. While the main Paris–Lyon high-speed link continued operating with only minor delays, the lines connecting Paris to the Mediterranean coast and the French Riviera were thrown into chaos. Many trains were diverted onto slower, conventional tracks, adding up to two and a half hours to journey times and causing knock-on delays for regional TER trains that share portions of the route.
SNCF advised passengers to postpone their trips if possible and to check the latest service updates online before heading to the station. Overcrowding and confusion were reported at major hubs as travelers scrambled to rebook, seek refunds, or find alternative routes. The timing of the sabotage couldn’t have been worse: the start of the week is typically busy for both business commuters and families returning from or heading to the south for the half-term holidays.
“Anyone with a train booked is advised to check the status of their train before going to the station,” SNCF said in a statement, as reported by The Local France. The operator worked quickly to implement contingency plans, rerouting some trains and offering last-minute rebookings or refunds for others. Despite the chaos, SNCF stressed that passenger safety was never compromised and that additional security patrols had been deployed along the affected lines.
Repair crews were dispatched to the scene as soon as the fires were contained, working through the day and night to replace burned cables and restore the sophisticated signalling systems that underpin high-speed rail operations. SNCF technicians faced a race against time to complete emergency repairs and rigorous safety checks. By late Monday, partial service had resumed through alternative routes, but the operator warned that residual delays could persist into Tuesday as final inspections were carried out.
“SNCF Réseau teams are fully mobilised to restore service as quickly as possible,” Transport Minister Tabarot reiterated. The company expected normal operations to resume by the morning of October 28, 2025, though it cautioned that some localized disruptions might linger as the network stabilized.
The financial impact of the attack is expected to be significant. Early estimates suggest that repairing the damage will cost millions of euros, not to mention the compensation likely to be paid out to affected passengers. The incident also cast a spotlight on the vulnerability of France’s vast rail infrastructure, which, despite ongoing investments in modernization and security, remains exposed to acts of sabotage and vandalism. Previous incidents—such as the fires that crippled high-speed lines on the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games—have raised similar concerns, though such attacks remain relatively rare.
Railway sabotage has a history in France as a form of protest, sometimes linked to political or social movements. However, authorities have so far not attributed Monday’s attack to any particular group or cause. The investigation, led jointly by police and railway security officials, is focused on determining how the perpetrators gained access to restricted areas of the network and whether the attack was coordinated with other incidents.
The broader context is one of ongoing challenges for SNCF and the French government. While cable theft—driven by high copper prices—has been a recurring headache, Monday’s arson attack was clearly intended to disrupt rather than to profit. The Avignon–Lyon corridor, part of the Mediterranean TGV network, is a vital artery not only for domestic travel but also for international connections to Spain and Italy. Although there were no immediate reports of direct disruption to cross-border services, SNCF said it was monitoring international schedules closely to minimize any knock-on effects.
Elsewhere on the French rail network, travelers faced additional headaches. On Sunday evening, a separate incident in the southwest left passengers stranded for five hours on a train between Bordeaux and Agen due to a breakdown, illustrating the complex web of challenges that can beset even the most advanced rail systems.
As the country awaits the results of the ongoing investigation, the attack has reignited debate about how best to secure critical infrastructure in an age of growing threats. For now, SNCF’s focus remains on restoring full service, supporting affected passengers, and reinforcing security along vulnerable stretches of track. The company urged travelers to remain patient and to consult its online platforms and customer information centers for the latest updates on timetables and ticket changes.
Monday’s events serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of the systems that keep modern societies moving. While the disruption is expected to be short-term, the questions it raises about infrastructure security and resilience are likely to echo far longer.
