Repairs to a vital railway line between Duisburg and Düsseldorf have been completed, restoring regular train service following significant disruptions. Deutsche Bahn reported that approximately 30 specialist technicians worked through the night to replace five damaged cables, each measuring 20 meters in length. Following successful trial runs, the line was officially reopened early Saturday, although passengers should anticipate potential, isolated delays.
The infrastructural damage, necessitating these extensive repairs, resulted from an act of vandalism targeting DB infrastructure. The incidents impacted both long-distance and regional rail services, affecting hundreds of trains and forcing numerous travellers to seek alternative routes or prematurely conclude their journeys. Commuters and those travelling to Düsseldorf Airport were particularly affected by the widespread travel constraints.
The initial damage was first identified on Thursday morning. During the overnight repair process on Friday, further damage was discovered, expanding the scope of the project. Authorities are currently investigating a separate cable fire near Webau in Saxony-Anhalt, impacting a freight line used for coal transportation. Investigators are also pursuing a suspected arson motive in connection with this incident.
