800,000 people affected by train cancellations: French rail company

Paris (dpa)

As many as 800,000 people have been affected by train cancellations due to the attack on the high-speed rail network, French railway company SNCF said on Friday.

SNCF said that the impact would be noticeable throughout the weekend.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete announced that every second train to the east and north and every fourth high-speed train in the direction of Bordeaux is affected.

Security measures are being intensified, Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nuñez said on the website of broadcaster FranceInfo, with his force "concentrating its personnel on the Paris stations."

A few hours before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, unknown individuals carried out arson attacks on several facilities of the French high-speed rail network. 

Several Eurostar trains to Paris have been cancelled and others diverted due to the arson attacks.

The rail operator, which runs international services from London St Pancras, confirmed on Friday its trains would be delayed because of the ongoing issues in France, the PA news agency reported.