Heatwave melts tram tracks in Leipzig, disrupts transport

Extreme heat in Leipzig has caused a significant disruption to the city’s public transport network. On Thursday, temperatures reached 41 °C (106 °F), leading to the melting of a section of a tramway track and forcing the temporary suspension of several tram lines.

The damaged track, located on one of the city’s busiest routes, was reported by local authorities to have warped and become unsafe for operation. As a result, the Leipzig Transport Authority halted service on the affected line and rerouted trams to alternative tracks, while buses were deployed to cover the gaps. The incident has prompted a review of the city’s heat‑resilience measures for rail infrastructure.

City officials have urged commuters to use the alternative bus routes until the track can be repaired, which is expected to take several days. The incident underscores the growing impact of extreme weather on urban transit systems and the need for infrastructure upgrades to withstand rising temperatures.