After a rail service disruption—problems may continue into the morning

GSM-R stands for “Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway.” “The GSM-R mobile network replaces nearly all of Deutsche Bahn AG’s analog radio systems,” according to the website of DB InfraGo, the operator of Deutsche Bahn’s infrastructure. According to the website, it offers advantages such as a high level of security in operational communications, the ability to make special group calls, and the option to contact train operators directly. 

Suburban trains, private railways, and freight traffic also affected

The disruption affected not only long-distance and regional trains, but also suburban trains operated by DB and private railways. In Berlin, for example, service was suspended across the entire S-Bahn network, as it was in Stuttgart. In Hamburg, however, the elevated rail system continued to operate.

Freight service, which primarily operates in the evenings and at night, was also halted. The Association of Private Freight Railways therefore called for a thorough investigation into the two-hour outage. The cause of the outage late Tuesday evening “should not be explained solely by a ‘self-report’ from DB InfraGo as the operator,” association managing director Peter Westenberger told dpa. Better monitoring and control of rail infrastructure operations are needed.

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