Fire disrupts trains between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains all day
A fire that broke out overnight near Lausanne knocked out a signal box, disrupting several rail lines and forcing replacement buses, Swiss rail operator CFF said.
A fire disrupted train services between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains for the whole of Friday after knocking out a signal box overnight, Swiss rail operator CFF said. The fire broke out shortly after 3am, and CFF spokeswoman Carmen Hefti said the disruption, first expected to last only until midday, would now continue all day.
Replacement buses were put in place between Eclepens and Chavornay, Hefti said. Lines IC5, IC51, R1 and R2 were affected. CFF advised passengers travelling between the Lake Geneva region and German-speaking Switzerland, and between Neuchatel and Biel, to take detour routes via Bern, Fribourg or Payerne, and to check timetables before travelling.
Repair work will start once police finish examining the site, Hefti said, though she could not yet give a timeline for a full repair. CFF has ruled out an internal technical fault as the cause, she said. Vaud cantonal police confirmed officers were at the scene but said they could not yet say what had caused the fire.
What we know
- A fire broke out shortly after 3am near Lausanne, disrupting rail lines IC5, IC51, R1 and R2 between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains, CFF said.
- The fire caused a signal box to fail; disruption was expected to last all of Friday, CFF spokeswoman Carmen Hefti said.
- Replacement buses were put in place between Eclepens and Chavornay.
- CFF has ruled out an internal technical fault; police are investigating the cause.
Why it matters for Europe
The affected lines carry regional and intercity traffic between the Lake Geneva region and German-speaking Switzerland, and CFF is advising wider detours via Bern, Fribourg and Payerne, meaning the disruption reaches well beyond the directly affected stretch of track.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
Source balance
PremiumSee how the 3 outlets behind this story spread from left to right, and which are official or OSINT sources.
Free during the launch: create an account →Log inHow we rate sources
Intelligence file
PremiumSee how we verified this story
Confidence and impact scores, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Launch offer: free for members until 31 October 2026
Questions and answers
- What caused the rail disruption between Lausanne and Yverdon-les-Bains?
- A fire broke out near the tracks around 03:15, knocking out a signal box; CFF has ruled out an internal technical fault and police are investigating.
- How long will services be disrupted?
- CFF said the disruption, initially expected to end by midday, will now continue for the whole of Friday.
- Are replacement buses running?
- Yes, CFF put on replacement buses between Eclepens and Chavornay and advised other passengers to take detours via Bern, Fribourg or Payerne.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.