French train network returns to normal following attacks

France's high-speed train network has returned to normal, three days after coordinated acts of sabotage heavily disrupted travel before the Olympics opening ceremony, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said.

Thousands of people had their travel plans thrown into disarray on Friday morning when saboteurs struck France's TGV high-speed train network in a series of pre-dawn attacks across the country.

Train operator SNCF said vandals had damaged signal substations and cables along the lines connecting Paris with cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the west and Strasbourg in the east.

Another attack on the Paris-Marseille line was foiled.

SNCF said security would be stepped up following the attacks.

It remains unclear who carried out the three arson attacks on strategic points of the rail infrastructure early Friday, or if they were deliberately timed to disrupt the Games' opening spectacle later that day.

The network gradually returned to normal over the weekend following repairs.

"This morning, all trains are running," Mr Vergriete told RTL radio.

The attacks affected 800,000 travellers, but "in the end 700,000 were able to make their trips" while 100,000 were hit by train cancellations, he said.

Since the attacks, 50 drones, 250 rail security agents and 1,000 maintenance workers were deployed to tighten security along the 28,000-kilometre high-speed train network, the minister added.

The incident will likely cost millions of euros, Mr Vergriete said.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said authorities had "identified a certain number of profiles that could have committed" the acts of sabotage.

Far-left French anarchists have a history of targeting the train network with arson attacks.

The attacks were "deliberate, very