German rail operator warns against travel amid extreme heat

Germany's national railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) has urged passengers to avoid all non-essential long-distance and regional travel this weekend as temperatures in parts of the country approach 40 degrees Celsius.

"Germany's transport infrastructure is being heavily affected by the record heat this weekend. Rail transport is also suffering from the extreme temperatures," DB said in an online statement on Saturday, noting that the German Weather Service had also warned of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

"Together with other railway operators and industry organizations such as the Federal Association of Local Rail Transport, Deutsche Bahn advises: Please avoid all non-essential long-distance and regional journeys today and tomorrow," the state-owned company said.

Regional rail operator National Express Germany announced that it would suspend services on five lines in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia for six hours on Saturday afternoon because of the heat.

Meanwhile, a fire on a railway embankment near Stuttgart's main station temporarily halted rail traffic on Saturday. The closure affected local, regional and long-distance services, according to Deutsche Bahn.  

DB had already announced on Thursday that passengers holding long-distance tickets purchased before June 23 could cancel journeys scheduled through June 30 free of charge.

Deutsche Bahn said it does not currently plan to halt operations.

Risk of track damage and fires

Breakdowns of air-conditioning systems on long-distance trains have become less frequent thanks to the company's newer fleet, but infrastructure remains vulnerable to extreme weather.

Rail switches, signalling systems and other safety equipment can be damaged by prolonged exposure to high temperatures and direct sunlight, potentially causing further disruption on Germany's already fragile rail network.

The risk of fires along railway embankments also increases during heatwaves, while heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds can create additional operational problems.

Last summer, extreme heat in June and July caused damage to rail switches, resulting in train cancellations and delays across parts of the country.