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French trains 'hit by sabotage' | French trains 'hit by sabotage' |
(20 minutes later) | |
France's high-speed TGV rail network has been damaged by a "concerted campaign of sabotage", the SNCF state- owned rail operator has said. | |
It said acts of sabotage overnight, including fires, caused huge delays to TGV services already hit by a long transport union strike over reforms. | It said acts of sabotage overnight, including fires, caused huge delays to TGV services already hit by a long transport union strike over reforms. |
The SNCF blamed union militants for damaging the TGV network, describing the attacks as "acts of vandalism". | The SNCF blamed union militants for damaging the TGV network, describing the attacks as "acts of vandalism". |
The rail unions and the government are due to hold talks to end the strike. | The rail unions and the government are due to hold talks to end the strike. |
In a statement, the SNCF said there had been "several acts" occurring "at the same time" on the TGV network. | In a statement, the SNCF said there had been "several acts" occurring "at the same time" on the TGV network. |
It said these included a "very large" fire on the TGV's Atlantic branch that damaged about 30km (18 miles) of the signal network. | It said these included a "very large" fire on the TGV's Atlantic branch that damaged about 30km (18 miles) of the signal network. |
Guillaume Pepy, a senior SNCF official, told RTL radio that the acts of sabotage severely disrupted TGV services. | Guillaume Pepy, a senior SNCF official, told RTL radio that the acts of sabotage severely disrupted TGV services. |
The open-ended rail strike is over planned changes to the pension system by President Nicolas Sarkozy. | The open-ended rail strike is over planned changes to the pension system by President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
But Mr Sarkozy has vowed to press on with the reforms. | But Mr Sarkozy has vowed to press on with the reforms. |