High-speed rail is one of France’s crowning achievements, even when it’s under attack

“Sabotage”, “massive attack”, “rail chaos”. These were not the words I wanted to wake up to in my charming hotel room in charming Nantes on the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. I’d taken the opportunity of the women’s football group stages being played in the western French city to explore a part of the country I did not yet know, and had been enjoying the quirky vibes and excellent wine bars of the birthplace of Jules Verne.