Metal thieves vandalized essential railway infrastructure, resulting in the cancellation of numerous high-speed trains that were scheduled to travel between Frankfurt and Stuttgart this week.

Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, reported that a theft of metal components was discovered along the railway section connecting Mannheim Central Station and the neighboring town of Lampertheim.

The reported disruption impacted Intercity Express (ICE) trains that operate on the Berlin-Frankfurt-Stuttgart route, resulting in the cancellation of all services between Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Additionally, certain trains from the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia to Munich, passing through Frankfurt Airport and Stuttgart, were also canceled. The operator had to redirect other ICE trains traveling between Frankfurt and Mannheim.

German media reported that the country has recently experienced a significant increase in copper thefts due to a substantial spike in scrap metal prices. The report highlights that the thefts are not limited to individuals, as organized gangs equipped with specialized tools are also involved in these criminal activities.

According to the railway operator’s representative, there have been 450 incidents of metal theft on Deutsche Bahn-operated railways in Germany. These thefts caused disruptions to 3,200 trains, resulting in a cumulative delay of 40,000 minutes and a financial loss of €7 million for the company.

Copper cable theft in the Mannheim area resulted in local disruptions lasting for days during the Christmas season. Another incident of metal theft caused disruptions to several ICE trains between Frankfurt and Cologne earlier this month.