Disruptions in train traffic
Transport Minister Volker Wissing: Important railway cables were “willfully and deliberately severed”
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP)
© Bernd von Jutrczenka / Picture Alliance
He calls it a “targeted and wanton approach”: Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has commented on the cases of sabotage at Deutsche Bahn. Essential cables were “consciously” severed.
According to the Federal Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing, the widespread disturbances in rail traffic are due to sabotage at two different locations in Germany. Cables had been severed, said the FDP politician on Saturday in Landau in the Palatinate. He spoke of “acts of sabotage”. “Cables that are essential for train traffic were willfully and deliberately severed.” The minister did not say exactly where the cables were located. The federal police are investigating the perpetrators.
Sabotage on the train: Wissing did not provide any information about the perpetrator and motive
It was a “targeted and willful approach,” said Wissing. “That’s why criminal investigations are being conducted. The background to this act is not yet known.” Wissing did not provide any information on the possible motive. “Today we can neither say anything about the background to the crime nor about the perpetrators. The investigation must show that.” However, he emphasized several times that the cables had been cut “deliberately and purposefully” and were “essential” for the safe operation of regional and long-distance traffic as well as freight traffic.
On Saturday morning, the railways stopped almost all train traffic in Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein for around three hours. The disruption was remedied in the late morning and train traffic resumed. However, “because of the after-effects”, there could still be cancellations and delays. The railway also said that the first trains running again would be expected to be very busy. Because long-distance trains from Berlin to North Rhine-Westphalia and from there further south were also affected, many travelers were also expected in other regions.
The railway therefore canceled the train connection for long-distance tickets that had already been purchased. Anyone who has booked a trip for Saturday can use it “flexibly up to and including seven days after the end of the disruption. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge,” the company explained. Those who no longer wish to travel can have the ticket price refunded.