Suspended vehicle discovered, authorities suspect acts of sabotage
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a suspected act of sabotage has disrupted the Deutsche Bahn route between Duisburg and Düsseldorf, causing significant delays and cancellations for passengers.
The fire, which broke out in the Düsseldorf city area, was triggered by an ignition device placed in a cable tunnel. The blaze spread to a cable duct of a north-south railway line, causing further damage to essential cables belonging to a signal box in Duisburg.
As a result, the S1 suburban railway line and several regional lines are affected in local traffic. Long-distance traffic is also impacted, with connections to Berlin and Frankfurt am Main, as well as to northern Germany, southern Germany, and the Netherlands, being affected.
The fire has affected ICE lines, causing 700 to 800 daily connections on this route to be disrupted. To manage the situation, work on a parallel goods line in Duisburg-Wedau has been temporarily suspended to handle some of the traffic on this route.
The regional trains RE1, RE5, RE6, and RE19 are being rerouted, and the S1 and the RE2, RE3, and RE11 start and end prematurely, with stops between Düsseldorf and Duisburg cancelled. This disruption also affects travel to Düsseldorf Airport.
To accommodate passengers, a shuttle bus service has been set up between Düsseldorf Airport and Duisburg Main Station, as well as between the main stations of the two cities. However, the entire area around Duisburg-Großenbaum in the south of the Ruhr area is not passable, which further complicates travel arrangements.
Significant disruptions to train traffic are expected to continue until Friday afternoon. Passengers are advised to check real-time updates from Deutsche Bahn (DB) and regional transport authorities for the latest alternative routes and replacement bus services.
The ongoing extreme heat in the region has compounded the issue, leading to line closures and bus service interruptions. As a result, passengers should prepare for significant delays and consider flexible travel plans, including using available road transport or carpooling options as temporary measures.
Checking official DB service alerts and local transport websites frequently is essential for the most current updates on alternative options during this disruption. It is estimated that several tens of thousands of passengers will be affected by the disruption.
- The act of sabotage in North Rhine-Westphalia, which disrupted the Deutsche Bahn route, has also impacted the finance sector, as many businesses reliant on public-transit and transportation for daily operations are experiencing losses.
- The crime-and-justice industry is showing increased interest in the incident, as the fire was suspectedly caused by an ignition device, raising questions about potential arson and the security of critical infrastructure.
- General-news outlets have reported on the extensive delays and cancellations affecting passengers due to the disruption, shedding light on the broader implications of the incident on the industry and public life.
