PARIS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A snap cold and intensified snowfall plunged Paris and its surrounding areas into chaos overnight, causing railway disruption and traffic jams on icy roads.
Due to heavy snowfall, traffic jams were reported along more than 700 kilometers in Ile-de-France, also known as the Parisian Region, on Tuesday evening. Hundreds of motorists were stranded as slippery roads forced them to wait for long hours.
"The situation on the roads remains difficult this morning. We call (everyone) to avoid taking (their) car and to follow the recommendations of the authorities," Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said.
In Paris, bus services had been suspended and school buses services in the suburbs were halted on Wednesday.
Railway company SNCF said the rail traffic would be strongly disrupted in Ile-de-France, recommending people postpone their travels as half of the regional trains would not be operational.
The intercity high-speed rail service TGV restricted the speed of its trains to 160 kilometers per hour, which caused long delays.
Delays were also reported at the Orly Airport as de-icing measures were being taken. The situation at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport was, however, normal, according to airport authorities.
The Interior Ministry called on people to limit their movements and banned heavy trucks from running on the main roads of the region.
French weather agency Meteo France placed 25 districts, including Paris, on orange alert for snowfall.
Further snowfall and freezing temperatures are expected to sweep the French capital and surrounding areas in addition to northern and central regions till Thursday morning, it said.
