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Cable Theft Cripples Paris–Orléans Trains With Repairs Targeted for Evening

The theft highlights a recurring security gap around copper cables that disable signals.

Overview

  • SNCF reported a theft of signaling cables near Toury on Monday, knocking out parts of the signal system and heavily disrupting both directions on the Paris–Orléans line.
  • The 7:20 a.m. departure from Paris Austerlitz to Orléans was canceled and following trains ran hours late, leaving commuters to miss work and appointments.
  • By midday, posted delays had eased to roughly 10 to 25 minutes, and SNCF said it expects a full return to normal around 8 p.m.
  • SNCF Réseau sent crews to secure the site, assess the cut cables, and replace them, since trains cannot run at normal speed without functioning signals.
  • The case fits a wider pattern this week, with another cable theft reported about 48 hours earlier near Monnerville and a trackside hut fire on the BayeuxCaen line that raised concerns about copper stored in these boxes.