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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Europe's rail network is increasingly strained by climate change effects
• Extreme weather conditions, such as storms, floods, and fires, are challenging rail operations across the continent
🔭 The context: Elevated temperatures are causing infrastructural issues like track distortions and forest fires, notably in the Alpine region
• In some countries, such as the UK, this has even led to numerous train cancellations and countless delays
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: These developments highlight the broader implications of climate change on critical infrastructure and emphasize the need for more resilient transportation systems
⏭️ What's next: Efforts to fortify rail infrastructure are underway. For example, Austria is upgrading its power lines and tracks, while the UK is enhancing drainage systems and implementing technology for temperature monitoring
💬 One quote: "We have never had as many train cancellations due to storms in recent years as we did last August," (Bernhard Rieder, spokesperson for ÖBB)
📈 One stat: Austria's rail network experienced 1,900 weather-related stoppages in 2023 alone
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