A critical communications breakdown crippled Germany's entire rail network this evening, leaving travelers stuck at stations nationwide. The GSM-R system — the backbone of Deutsche Bahn's operational control — went dark, preventing train operators from coordinating with control centers. By midnight, railway officials had pinpointed the culprit but kept the specifics under wraps. The company is scrambling to restore service and offering taxi and hotel vouchers to stranded passengers. According to AP News, such a comprehensive rail stoppage is virtually unprecedented in recent German railway history.

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