New travel updates: Rail service between Berlin and Spandau disrupted

Rail service between the German capital's main railway station and the western district of Spandau has been severely disrupted. Authorities believe the fire was deliberatly started.

Train services in the German capital, Berlin, will be disrupted for days due to a cable fire that authorities believe was deliberately set.

Rail operator Deutsche Bahn said a fire broke out at a cable shaft in Berlin's Charlottenburg district overnight, damaging several signals and switches.

Trains between Berlin's main railway station and the western district of Spandau have been delayed, diverted, and canceled.

This has had a knock-on effect on other public transportation lines around the capital.

Hundreds of trains, including long-distance, regional, commuter and freight rail services, have been impacted.

Rail networks targeted

The Berlin Criminal Investigation Department has taken charge of the case.

The incident follows an arson attack that caused damage to the train line between Hamburg and Bremen on Monday.

Last week, arson attacks on the French high-speed network severely disrupted rail traffic shortly before the start of the Olympic Games.

An activist linked to a far-left movement was arrested in connection with the French incidents.