Fire on Railway Lines in Germany Sparks Investigation

A late-night fire broke out on railway lines in the western German city of Wuppertal on Friday, prompting state security authorities to launch an investigation.

A spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn told the German Press Agency that early findings suggest the fire was likely started using an accelerant. The blaze ignited cable sheaths but caused only minor disruption to train services.

Police confirmed that three railway points were damaged and described the fire as large enough to be noticed by residents.

Authorities clarified that the blaze was not directly on the switches but in their immediate vicinity. According to infrastructure subsidiary Infrago AG, the damage involved cables that were deliberately set alight.

Deutsche Bahn reported that at least two cables may have been deliberately severed. Police deployed a helicopter overnight in search of possible suspects, while state security investigators were called in, a standard procedure when technical faults are initially ruled out.

Wuppertal lies about 30 kilometers east of Düsseldorf. The incident comes less than a month after a deliberate fire on the Düsseldorf-Duisburg railway line, where incendiary devices destroyed signaling and control cables, causing major disruptions to regional and long-distance train services.

The investigation into the Wuppertal railway fire is ongoing.