All passenger and freight services across Germany stopped early Thursday after a failure knocked out the nationwide train radio system, according to Xinhua. Operators reported loss of driver‑to‑control‑center communication, forcing automatic safety protocols that halt movements on both high‑speed, regional and intercity lines. The outage affected roughly 10,000 scheduled trips and triggered emergency alerts for stations nationwide.

The disruption stems from a software glitch in the GSM‑R network that underpins voice and data links for Deutsche Bahn’s signalling architecture. Engineers scrambled to reboot redundant channels while manual checks verified train positions, delaying any restart. Critics note that reliance on a single communication layer leaves the rail grid vulnerable to cascade failures. The glitch also disabled backup LTE fallbacks, compounding the delay as crews manually verified track occupancy.

Authorities estimate restoration will take several hours, during which commuters face mass cancellations and freight firms reroute cargo via road. The incident revives debate over modernising rail communications, with some urging migration to European Train Control System‑compatible radio. Until a fix is verified, Germany’s rail network remains fully immobilised. Passengers were advised to seek alternative transport, and freight operators incurred extra costs for rerouting.