One week after tram service in Leipzig was completely suspended due to severe heat-related damage, most of the trams are running again. On Saturday, Leipzig residents were called upon for the third and final time to help scrape joint compound from the fused tracks. Trams are now running again to all parts of the city, according to the Leipzig Public Transportation Authority (LVB). However, lines 2, 8, and 12 are not yet back in service.
On June 27, tram service in Saxony’s largest city had been completely suspended. According to the LVB, extreme heat with temperatures around 40 degrees had softened the joint compound in many places along the tracks. The trams had pushed this material out and spread it across the tracks and switches with their wheels—forming a layer up to five millimeters thick. The material then hardened again, causing the tracks to stick together and also damaging the vehicles.
