Train track fire near Wuppertal.
In an unexpected turn of events, a fire broke out at Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station in North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday evening. The authorities are treating the incident as a suspected arson attack.
The fire did not occur directly on the switches but in the surrounding area. Investigators have found that a heating system for switches was affected by the fire. According to the German Railway, the fire was likely caused by an accelerant.
This isn't the first instance of arson on the Duesseldorf-Duisburg railway line. Almost a month ago, two cases of arson were reported, which destroyed cables for switch and signal control, causing significant disruption to long-distance and regional traffic.
State security has taken over the investigation into the fire at Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station. Two cables were deliberately cut, according to the police spokesperson. The fire did not have any immediate impact on rail traffic, as the heating system, which prevents switches from freezing in winter, was not in operation at the time.
A Federal Police helicopter was in operation at times, and deployment forces searched the surrounding area for any suspicious spots in the night, but found nothing. The fire was extinguished late on Friday evening.
Investigations at the scene began shortly after the incident. As of Saturday morning, the DB had no new findings regarding the impact of the fire on rail traffic. The company spokesperson reported no reports of any impact on rail traffic.
Meanwhile, in other news, the playoff semifinals saw Stuttgart Surge make a clear statement in their match. There were voices expressing disappointment about the VfB game against Berlin.
On a historical note, Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station stands on a line used for both regional and long-distance traffic. The station has a unique place in history, as it is the site of an unsolved double murder from 1928 that remains unresolved.
The incident at Wuppertal-Oberbarmen station serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the safety and integrity of the railway network, and the ongoing efforts of the authorities to investigate such incidents.
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