"This is a massive attack on a large scale that aims to paralyze the TGV network," SNCF said, adding that many routes would have to be cancelled.
France's high-speed rail network has been hit by "malicious acts", including arson attacks, which have disrupted the transport system, rail operator SNCF said, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
A source close to the investigation told AFP the attacks were coordinated acts of "sabotage".
"This is a massive attack on a large scale that aims to paralyze the TGV network," SNCF said, adding that many routes would have to be cancelled.
"SNCF fell victim to several simultaneous malicious acts overnight," the national rail operator said, adding that the attacks affected its Atlantic, Northern and Eastern lines.
"There was arson to damage our facilities," he said, adding that traffic on the affected lines was "severely disrupted" and the situation would continue over the weekend while repair work was carried out.
Trains are being diverted to different routes, "but we will have to cancel a large number of them," the statement said.
The South East line was not affected as "the malicious act was foiled".
SNCF urged passengers to postpone their journeys and stay away from stations.
At Paris's Montparnasse train station, dozens of passengers waited for more information about their journeys after delays of 30 minutes to almost two hours were announced.
The attacks came as Paris was under heightened security ahead of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
The XXXIII Summer Olympic Games in Paris will be held from July 26 to August 11. For the first time in history, the opening ceremony of the Olympics will not be held in a stadium, but along the Seine River, with around 7,000 athletes taking a 6-kilometer route along the river on board more than 100 boats. Between 300,000 and half a million spectators are expected to watch live along the Seine. In addition, the Parisian river will host part of the swimming competitions, for which the organizers have made great efforts in recent years to clean it to swimmable levels.
A total of 10,714 athletes will participate in Paris, and for the first time, their number is equally divided between men and women. They will compete for a total of 329 sets of medals in 32 sports. In the French capital, breakdancing will make its
Olympic debut. In addition to Paris, competitions will be held in 16 other cities, as well as on the island of Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean, where the battles in surfing will take place.
The closing ceremony of the Olympics will be held at the Stade de France in Paris on August 11, when the baton will be handed over to the host of the next Games - Los Angeles 2028.
For the first time, the Summer Olympics will be held outside the main athletics stadium, a decision fraught with danger at a time when France is on the highest alert for terrorist attacks. | BGNES
