BERLIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Europe's latest heatwave is exposing vulnerabilities across transport, energy and water systems, as extreme temperatures place growing pressure on infrastructure already strained by seasonal demand, ageing assets and climate-related challenges.
In Germany, rail services faced further disruption on Wednesday, a day after a nationwide rail shutdown caused by a failure of the GSM-R railway radio system. Rail traffic between Frankfurt and Giessen came to a standstill after an overheated train component triggered a cable fire. The blaze also spread to vegetation along the tracks, damaging railway cables and causing a signal system failure.
As a result, long-distance trains, regional services and S-Bahn lines on the route were suspended, with only limited replacement bus services available. Local reports described the disruption as a temporary "complete collapse" of rail traffic on the line.
Urban rail systems have also been affected. On Monday, regional public transport operator Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH restricted services on two tram routes in Heidelberg after heat-related damage was found around the tracks.
According to the company, the problem involved the bituminous compound used where the rails meet the asphalt road surface.
"The material is designed to remain flexible so it can absorb mechanical stress. Under extreme heat, it can become excessively soft and deform under the weight of vehicles," a company spokesperson said, adding that in serious cases, the material can even spread onto the rails.
Inland shipping networks are also under pressure, as persistent heat and dry weather push down water levels on the Rhine, one of Western Europe's most important commercial waterways. Falling water levels are forcing vessels to adjust their cargo loads, adding pressure to a key route for fuel, industrial goods and other freight.
In Belgium, national railway operator SNCB said it would cut about 100 trains per day from Wednesday to Friday. The Brussels Times reported that many older trains in Belgium still have no air conditioning. Even where onboard cooling systems are available, they are more prone to technical faults during periods of extreme heat.
Belgium's railway infrastructure manager, Infrabel, decided on Tuesday to impose speed restrictions on the high-speed line between Brussels and the French border, citing the risk of incidents linked to overhead lines loosening in intense heat.
The heat has also tested power grids, as demand for cooling rises while equipment faces additional thermal stress.
In Italy's Turin, a series of power outages struck several districts in recent days. Local electricity distributor Ireti said soaring demand for air conditioning and cooling systems had placed significant strain on the power grid. Within a 24-hour period, eight power failures were recorded across the city, disrupting households, shops and businesses.
Gianluca Riu, operations director of Ireti, described the situation as "an emergency within an emergency." He said the combination of sharply rising electricity consumption and stress on parts of the existing power network contributed to the outages.
Energy experts quoted by Italian media said heatwaves put pressure on power systems from both the demand and supply sides. While electricity consumption surges due to widespread use of air conditioners, high temperatures can also reduce transmission efficiency and increase the risk of equipment failures.
France has also reported heat-related power disruptions. About 68,000 households remained without electricity in the southwestern part of France's Finistere department following a major transformer incident caused by extreme heat, local authorities said Wednesday.
The power failure was accidental and directly linked to the high temperatures currently affecting the region, the prefecture of Finistere said in a statement, noting that due to technical complexities, full grid reconnection was expected no earlier than late Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, in Greece, a water outage in two tourist settlements in the Halkidiki region highlighted the vulnerability of public utilities during periods of high temperatures and peak seasonal demand. Local authorities said the disruption was caused by the theft of electrical cables from a pumping station, which shut down the local water supply system.
Meteorologists have warned that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense across Europe, increasing pressure on infrastructure systems that were largely designed for milder climate conditions.
