'Massive' unexploded WWII bomb discovered near Paris causes significant rail disruption

Eurostar trains parked at platforms as traffic has been stopped at the Gare du Nord station in Paris on Friday. 

Geoffrey van der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images

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Paris, CNN — Train services to and from Paris faced significant disruptions on Friday after an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered near Gare du Nord, the world’s third-busiest train station.

Nearly 500 trains were canceled, impacting approximately 600,000 travelers, according to the transport minister.

The bomb, described as "really huge" by a spokesperson for France’s national rail company SNCF, was found by construction workers at a site designated for a railway bridge replacement. Located 2.5 km outside Paris in the town of Saint-Denis, the device weighed 500 kg, including 200 kg of explosives.

“This bomb posed a serious threat to public safety,” the spokesperson warned.

Its discovery caused major travel disruptions, particularly at the busy Gare du Nord station, which sees around 220 million passengers annually. Services to London and Brussels, operated by Eurostar, were also affected.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced that train services would gradually resume, and roads would reopen from 6 p.m. local time on Friday. However, details on how the bomb was neutralized were not immediately available.

“We are delighted and relieved that this situation has been resolved,” Tabarot said.

Following the discovery, authorities quickly established a security perimeter, suspending intercity and suburban train lines from Gare du Nord, police told CNN. Later in the day, the restricted area was expanded to a 500-meter radius, prompting evacuations of all nearby buildings with windows facing the bomb site, according to the Saint-Denis town hall.

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A view of a departures screen at St Pancras International station in London on Friday. 

James Manning/PA/AP

Hundreds of passengers gathered inside Gare du Nord on Friday morning, seeking information, CNN observed. The atmosphere remained calm as dozens of train staff and security personnel assisted travelers.

Speaking to CNN affiliate BFMTV outside the station, one woman shared her frustration: “We were supposed to leave for a weekend in London this morning. The concern is that we might lose €800 worth of hotel bookings if we can’t make the trip, which is quite a problem.”

Another passenger expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “The app provides no updates—only the Eurostar website mentions the possibility of a refund. Beyond that, there’s no further information.”

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