A train transporting European Parliament employees from Strasbourg to Brussels broke down on Thursday afternoon but the issue has since been resolved.
European Parliament employees' journey back to Brussels from plenary sessions in Strasbourg was delayed due to an "explosion" on their specially designated Thalys train at around 15:00 on Thursday.
All passengers were told to evacuate the train when the incident occurred. Firefighters arrived to the scene and resolved the issue. The train departed at 16:00.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown. The incident caused delays across the regional railway network.
"Traffic is disrupted on departure and arrival in Strasbourg due to smoke coming from a train," regional railway operator TER posted on social media. "Disruption is expected to end at around 18:00."
Parliamentary assistant Pelle Geertsen (The Left) described a "chaotic evacuation" and "plenty of firefighters" at the train station in Strasbourg.
Plenty of firefighters here at #Strasbourg station - but very little info.
Chaotic evacuation where people were only told to leave their luggage on board after most had already left, with their luggage#EPlenary pic.twitter.com/adrUBZt7QQ — Pelle Geertsen (@pellechristy) October 10, 2024
The station was "paralysed" and passengers were asked to "take refuge" in the tunnel, said Emmanuel Foulon, press officer for Renew.
Explosion ds la locomotive du train devant ramener les parlementaires européens et le personnel de #Strasbourg à #Bruxelles. Origine encore inconnue. Les passagers appelés à « se réfugier » ds le tunnel Gare paralysée, pompiers appelés en urgence #explosion #ParlementEuropeen pic.twitter.com/9J0u3cQDT4
— Emmanuel Foulon (@efoulon1) October 10, 2024
