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GSM-R outage halts trains
German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn suspended train services nationwide late Tuesday after a disruption affecting the GSM-R digital communication system used to coordinate railway operations.
“train services nationwide were suspended late Tuesday due to a communications system malfunction”
The outage stopped all trains at stations across Germany, including in North Rhine-Westphalia, while Berlin’s public transport authorities said municipal, regional and long-distance trains were impacted.
Deutsche Bahn said technicians were working intensively to resolve the problem but did not provide an estimate for when service would resume or how many trains had been affected.
By early Wednesday, Deutsche Bahn said train service resumed after the nationwide disruption of the digital railway radio system was fixed, with services gradually resuming.
Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla told Bild that “we are now trying to get the trains into stations so that travelers can disembark. And then we have to fix the problem, which we don't yet know.”
Vouchers, stations, and quotes
During the disruption, Deutsche Bahn said all trains were held at stations and that services might still be limited as it worked to restore the GSM-R communication system.
Deutsche Bahn apologized to passengers and issued taxi and hotel vouchers, while Berlin S-Bahn authorities said all trains across all lines were suspended due to a communication failure.
In Stuttgart, authorities said “At present, all S-Bahn trains across the entire network are being held at platforms,” and urged riders to check the travel information system for alternative transport options.
A Deutsche Bahn spokesperson said, “Our IT experts have been working non-stop to resolve the issue - and have succeeded,” as services resumed early on Wednesday.
CP24 described passengers at Berlin’s central station trying to get back to Munich and hearing that “we don’t know,” as Reyna Ghoshal said she booked a bus for 8 a.m. just in case.
Cyberattack questions emerge
While Deutsche Bahn initially attributed the halt to a GSM-R communications problem, rts.ch later reported the company said it “had suffered what is called a denial-of-service attack (DDoS) against its computer systems.”
“Deutsche Bahn has and remains exposed to cyberattacks”
rts.ch said the investigation was at a very early stage and quoted a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry saying he could not comment on possible perpetrators.
Deutsche Bahn said on its website that it had been and remains exposed to cyberattacks, noting they occur in waves, and that its defense measures are effective.
The rts.ch account also said Deutsche Bahn reported disruptions on Tuesday afternoon, then said systems were functioning normally again in the evening, before new problems were reported on Wednesday morning.
In parallel, Reuters reporting via Global Banking & Finance Review said Deutsche Bahn did not disclose the cause of the incident when it resumed services after the GSM-R disruption was fixed.
