Snow blocks trains in northern France

Lille - Heavy snowfalls cut powerlines in northern France on Monday, blocking trains and leaving 140 000 homes without electricity.

High-speed trains in and out of Lille experienced serious delays in the afternoon and evening, the national SNCF railway service said.

Farther north, around Douai, Lens, Hazebrouck, and Bethune, the electricity company EDF said it was struggling to repair powerlines.

The Lille-Lesquin airport was also closed for a few hours in the middle of the day because of heavy snow.

“The great majority” of train services in the north, including the Eurostar to London, were back on track before midnight, Transport Minister Thierry Mariani told reporters later.

However, disruptions and delays could still be expected as the backlog of passengers was dealt with, with “a small number” of people being put up in hotels or stuck overnight at train stations.

- Sapa-AFP- IOL