Railway infrastructure damage disrupts Liberec cross-border connections

Repeated intentional damage to railway infrastructure and optical cables on the Polish side of the border is disrupting train services between Liberec, Varnsdorf, and Dresden. Since May, approximately six incidents of vandalism have been recorded near Porajów, affecting the signaling equipment and cables on the section between Hrádek nad Nisou and Zittau.

The disruptions cause significant delays on the Žitava railway, a vital regional line used by an average of 2,500 passengers daily for commuting and school. Because the line is largely single-track, delays often cascade through the schedule. In some instances, certain services must be canceled entirely to stabilize operations.

Liberec Region officials, including Governor Martin Půta and Deputy Governor Daniel David, are calling for increased cross-border cooperation between police and border security forces in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. The region is also discussing emergency measures with the operator, Die Länderbahn CZ, such as implementing replacement bus services to ensure reliability before the start of the school year.