‘Explosion’ sparks evacuation on train carrying MEPs

A train carrying MEPs from the European Parliament in Strasbourg back to Brussels on Thursday was evacuated after an apparent explosion.

The politicians had only just boarded a 2:57 p.m. Eurostar train that was chartered by the Parliament before they were evacuated to the main hall of Strasbourg station.

Emmanuel Foulon, a Belgian parliamentary assistant in the Renew Europe group, wrote online that he heard an “explosion.”

Pelle Geertsen, a Danish official in the Left group, described the evacuation as “chaotic.”

Fire services came to the scene at Strasbourg train station.

“A technical incident occurred on a train at Strasbourg station,” the Parliament’s press service confirmed, adding that its services are in contact with the competent authorities and are doing their best to organize alternative transport means.

“Please stay calm,” Parliament official Guillaume Pringiers urged colleagues in an email seen by POLITICO. “We are working with Eurostar to find a solution.”

Pringiers sent a second email telling staff that the first train would be replaced by another one leaving at around 8 or 9 p.m. A second chartered train is set to leave at around 5:30 p.m.

“Incoming and outgoing traffic is disrupted in Strasbourg because of smoke coming out of a train,” TER Grand Est, the regional rail network, wrote on X. “The end of disruption is estimated at 18:00.”

“Everyone’s fine,” said another staffer on the scene, who said said she saw smoke. “We’re all just crowded here [at the station],” she added.

Having spotted some MEPs taking taxis, a parliamentary assistant joked that it was a case of Parliament prioritizing “MEPs and children first.”

Bas Eickhout, co-chair of the Greens, said the delay gave him a “good opportunity to catch up with everyone I didn’t speak to this week.”

The European Parliament charters special trains for its members and staffers between Brussels and Strasbourg, where its chambers are located. The 2:57 p.m. train had 750 allocated seats, the Parliament’s press service said.

Tommaso Lecca and Max Griera contributed reporting.