German Railways Strain Under Record Heat as Climate Outpaces Infrastructure

Germany's June heat spike—41.3°C in Saarbrücken—revealed a design flaw: Deutsche Bahn's tracks were engineered for cooler historical temperatures. Above 37–38°C, thermal expansion causes speed restrictions and buckling. European summers are warming twice as fast as the global average, leaving a rail network serving millions without the thermal safety margins southern European systems already built in.