On Saturday, Leipzig residents were called upon for the third and final time to clean the clogged tracks. A total of 550 people took part in the actions, according to the LVB. The extreme heat, with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, had softened the joint compound in the rails. Trams pushed it out, spreading it up to five millimeters thick on the tracks. The compound hardened and glued the rails together, forcing a complete shutdown of operations on June 27.
Now trams are running again to all districts, and line 2 is expected to resume service on Monday. Some trams are still on detours. As a thank-you, the LVB is offering free rides from July 6 to 12: anyone with a valid ticket can bring one additional person on buses and trams within the city. S-Bahn and regional trains are excluded.
A TÜV expert has begun analyzing the causes of the damage. He is taking material samples and examining why the joint compound melted in some places but withstood the heat in others. The results are to be incorporated into future construction projects.
Source: www.spiegel.de
