On Friday morning, Good Morning Britain (GMB) was briefly halted for a significant announcement
as presenter Charlotte Hawkins shared urgent breaking news.
The disruption, which caused widespread travel chaos, stemmed from the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb on the railway tracks in Paris.
Hawkins, who was in the midst of delivering the day’s headlines, stopped the broadcast to relay the shocking news
that would impact many travelers. “Now, some breaking news,” she began.
“Eurostar services and all other trains are being halted this morning at Gare du Nord, France’s busiest station, as police work to disable an unexploded World War II bomb.
It was found out in the middle of the tracks in a suburb of Paris during overnight works on the tracks.”
This unexpected discovery at Gare du Nord, located in the heart of Paris, forced a complete shutdown of train services, including the crucial Eurostar route connecting Paris to London. “Four trains from London’s St Pancras station have been cancelled so far, as have the first six trains to depart from Paris to London,” Hawkins reported. She also provided viewers with some advice for anyone planning to travel that day: “EuroStar are advising passengers to change their journey for a different date of travel.”
In response to the unfolding situation, the show quickly cut to travel expert Simon Calder, who provided more details on the developing crisis. He confirmed that Eurostar services from London would be delayed, with no trains leaving until at least 10:31 AM, “at the earliest.” Furthermore, Calder mentioned that the first departure from Paris may not take place until later in the afternoon, depending on how long it takes for the bomb to be safely defused.
“The problem is that services are extremely heavily booked on Fridays,” Calder explained, emphasizing that Friday is one of the busiest travel days for Eurostar, which ferries tens of thousands of passengers through the Channel Tunnel every day. He went on to explain that the disruption could affect both leisure travelers and commuters, and for those with tight schedules, it would be difficult to find alternative travel arrangements.
Calder also advised those impacted by the cancellations to consider rescheduling their travel plans and, in some cases, rebooking or even canceling their trips altogether. “If you have plans in Paris, you may need to rebook or cancel your plans completely,” he said, suggesting that travelers check with their travel insurance to see if they could get any assistance in the event of cancellations.
As the situation developed, French transport minister Philippe Tabarot spoke to local media, explaining that the discovery of the bomb had caused “panic” across the railway network, with significant delays being reported on all lines serving Gare du Nord. In addition to Eurostar, all RER, regional, and TGV trains were suspended in the area, exacerbating the travel chaos.
The bomb squad in Paris had been working at the scene since early that morning, starting around 6 AM, and authorities were still assessing the situation. The French national railway company, SNCF, confirmed that the discovery of the bomb was a serious disruption, with work underway to safely remove it from the tracks.
The Eurostar website provided further instructions for affected travelers, stating, “Due to an object on the tracks near Paris Gare du Nord, we are expecting disruption to our services this morning. Please change your journey for a different date of travel.” The company assured passengers that they could exchange their tickets for free for a later date or time, though this was subject to availability. They also urged travelers to keep an eye on their website or the Eurostar app for ongoing updates.
The incident at Gare du Nord is a stark reminder of the lingering effects of World War II, as unexploded ordnance continues to be discovered in various parts of Europe. The response from authorities is typically swift, given the potential danger posed by such bombs, and this was no exception. As the bomb is carefully defused, passengers are left to deal with the ripple effects of this rare but disruptive event.
For those traveling through Gare du Nord today, the situation remains fluid, and all eyes will be on the authorities as they work to clear the tracks and restore normal services.
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