The traffic at the Gare de l'Est train station, one of Paris' six major stations, stands completely still after a fire broke out in the middle of Tuesday morning rush. The fire was first assumed to be an accident, but according to the railway operator SNCF proved to be a result of vandalism.
"According to early findings we can say that this was a fire deliberately constructed on the electrical cables", says a spokesperson for SNCF.
All today's departures are now canceled.
Gare de l'Est is a well-trafficked hub for Paris commuters and for long-distance trains to Germany, Luxembourg and eastern France.