Overview
- Deutsche Bahn says a blaze in a switch box damaged cables tied to the Krefeld signal system, shutting the node since early Thursday.
- The railway cannot give a firm end time, noting numerous cables require renewal and services will stay curtailed at least through part of Saturday.
- Regional routes face wide impacts, including suspensions or diversions on RE 4, RE 7, RE 10, RE 11, RE 42 and RB 33, RB 35, RB 37, with RB 33 and RB 37 canceled on key sections.
- Replacement buses were inconsistent on Thursday, with a bus operator confirming vehicles were called off as firms disputed who was responsible; passengers reported long waits and poor information.
- By Saturday, operators listed specific substitutes: RE 7 ends in Neuss with four buses running, RE 10 turns in Kempen with five buses to Neuss, RE 42 is rerouted, and RB 33 uses multiple bus companies to cover stops while RB 35 shortens to Rheinhausen.