German Railways vs. Badgers

Badgers in Germany have become a serious problem for the railway tracks. Damages to the earthwork on the railway line from Fröndenberg-an-der-Ruhr to Unna, spanning over 11 km, are a result of active badger activity, leading to the creation of nearly 140 burrows, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

In 2022, the first burrows were discovered, and an innovative technology involving the injection of concrete under pressure was used to seal them.

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However, in some areas, the damages are so severe that a complete replacement of the earthwork will be necessary.

DB (German Railways) estimates that several years will be required for planning and obtaining permits for the repairs, with the cost of restoration projects potentially reaching tens of millions of euros.

As a consequence, train services between the Fröndenberg and Unna stations have been suspended, and passengers are temporarily being transported by buses, extending the travel time by 7 minutes.

Photo: Wikipedia

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