A World War II bomb unearthed near Paris’s Gare du Nord has brought chaos to one of Europe’s busiest transport hubs today, 7 March 2025. Discovered at 4 a.m. by workers digging near railway tracks in Saint-Denis, the unexploded ordnance has halted Eurostar services to London and disrupted local trains, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
The bomb, found just north of the Gare du Nord station, prompted an immediate shutdown of all Eurostar departures and arrivals. The high-speed operator cancelled trains between Paris and London, advising travellers to postpone trips as bomb disposal teams moved in. Meanwhile, SNCF, France’s national railway, suspended RER B and D lines serving Gare du Nord, a key link for commuters and airport transfers. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned that disruptions could last all day, with police establishing a security cordon around the site.
Authorities have not disclosed the bomb’s size or type, but its location near critical infrastructure has raised the stakes. Minesweepers are working to neutralise the device, a process complicated by its proximity to tracks used by millions annually—Gare du Nord saw 700,000 passengers daily pre-pandemic. Eurostar, which runs up to 15 daily services to London St Pancras, has offered refunds or exchanges, but no timeline for resuming operations has been confirmed.
Eurostar and local services hit hard
While unexploded bombs from the world wars are unearthed regularly across France—often in rural areas or construction sites—finding one so close to a major urban hub is unusual. Historians note that Paris, though not as heavily bombed as some Allied cities, was a strategic target during the 1940s German occupation. This latest find underscores the lingering legacy of conflict, with experts estimating thousands of tonnes of ordnance remain buried across Europe.
Officials have yet to confirm when services might resume, with the timeline hinging on the bomb disposal operation’s success. SNCF and Eurostar are monitoring progress, but a spokesperson cautioned that safety checks and track inspections could delay restarts even after the device is neutralised. If all goes smoothly, limited RER services might resume by evening, though Eurostar’s complex schedule could push full operations into Saturday. Passengers are urged to check updates online, as authorities prioritise safety over speed.
The Minister of Transport referred to a partial resumption of traffic “from 4 p.m. onwards”.
The timing could hardly be worse, with Friday marking a busy travel day. Commuters faced packed platforms and sparse updates, while Eurostar passengers scrambled for alternatives. “It’s a nightmare,” one traveller told reporters outside Gare du Nord. “I’ve got a meeting in London this afternoon, and now I’m stuck.” SNCF has urged the public to avoid the area, redirecting regional traffic to other stations where possible.
As disposal efforts continue, the incident has sparked renewed discussion about infrastructure resilience. For now, Paris’s northern gateway remains at a standstill, a stark reminder of history’s unexpected reach into the present.
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