‘Number one’ is Line 1: the tram is back on track

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At last, all the hard work is paying off. Following the heatwave-related breakdown, Leipzig Transport (LVB) is resuming services on an initial section of the network. With immediate effect, Line 1 is operating a shuttle service, reconnecting the west of Leipzig with the city centre. The tram is running on its regular route from the Lausen terminus to the Marschnerstraße stop. From there, the temporarily adjusted route runs via the New Town Hall to the turning point at Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz, where the LZ witnessed the gruelling work involved in clearing the tracks today. From there, the service returns to Lausen. A first silver lining on the evening horizon.

The line will run every 20 minutes until around 10 pm, and then every 30 minutes until around 12.30 am. This adjusted route will remain in place from the start of services on Tuesday. Passengers can access the latest information via the Leipzig Move app. With the resumption of Line 1, the LVB aims to take a first step back towards regular tram services. The aim is to gradually reintroduce direct connections between the outlying areas and the city centre, as well as to facilitate connections with bus services running to schedule, as the LVB states in a press release.

At the same time, work on further sections of the network is in full swing. Intensive cleaning of the rail network continued throughout the night and on Monday. In addition to specialist departments within the LVB, numerous volunteer colleagues from across the entire L-Group are also lending a hand. According to the transport operator, the extensive cleaning and testing measures, including test runs, are already showing results.

The LVB therefore currently expects that, with further intensive work carried out overnight, additional lines will be able to resume service in sections as early as Tuesday. This remains conditional on the respective routes being fully cleaned, technically inspected and safe for trains to run on. LVB intends to provide ongoing updates on further developments and would like to thank all passengers for their patience and understanding. Relevant information is available on the transport company’s website

or via Leipzig’s mobility app

.

Due to the extreme heat of the last few days, the joint sealant – which is intended to protect the tracks – had dissolved, spread as a result of train operations and ultimately brought the rail network to a standstill

.