München: S-Bahn Main Line Power Cable Repaired, Service Resumes

Overhead power cable damage severely disrupted Munich's S-Bahn main line throughout the day. Deutsche Bahn (DB) reported the cable section between Pasing and Laim repaired around 6 PM, allowing S-Bahn trains to use all tracks. Full service is gradually being restored across all lines, though passengers should anticipate ongoing delays and cancellations.

The damage occurred around 7:50 AM when a short circuit happened on a track between Laim and Pasing during an S-Bahn's journey, damaging the overhead cable. The cause remains unclear; initial assessments rule out sabotage or lack of maintenance. A combination of circumstances may have led to the S-Bahn damaging the cable.

Two trains were stranded between Pasing and Laim due to the disruption. Passengers had to be evacuated, with firefighters assisting in rescuing approximately 150 people from the stranded carriages. The disabled trains had to be towed away from the de-energized section before repair work could begin.

The damaged cable caused widespread service issues. Initially, the entire main line was closed. Later in the morning, S-Bahn lines S1 and S2, which join the main line at Laim, along with the S8 airport line utilizing a second track between Laim and Pasing, resumed partial service. Repairs concluded during the evening commute. The S7 line, which does not use the main line, was unaffected.

S-Bahn services are expected to return to normal gradually. For the latest traffic information, passengers can check DB's disruption page at s-bahn-muenchen.de/aktuell, where line closures were still listed shortly after the repair announcement.

Bavaria's Minister of Transport, Christian Bernreiter (CSU), criticized Deutsche Bahn sharply for the chaos. He stated the company presented a "miserable image" and had clearly not prepared for the increased commuter volume on the first school day after the summer holidays. Bernreiter emphasized the company's responsibility for infrastructure maintenance, deeming the condition of Munich's S-Bahn tracks "no longer tenable." He demanded a thorough investigation into how this "collapse" could happen.