French trains delayed after power lines hit

Overnight delays to high-speed train services in western France were probably caused by a vandal who shot out overhead power lines with a gun, French rail operator SNCF said.

Thousands of passengers faced hours of waiting after at least 50 high speed TGV trains were delayed or cancelled due to a power line break at Marcoussis, just outside Paris. The SNCF said it would take legal action against those responsible.

"There is no proof of a technical incident. But there are strong presumptions that the damage was caused by gun shots," the rail operator said in a statement.

The incident is the latest in a series of delays that have affected the SNCF's much-praised high speed train services, drawing concern over the condition of its infrastructure.

"The power line incident at Marcoussis yesterday is one incident too many," Transport secretary Dominique Bussereau said in a statement.