Canicula has affected public transport in Timisoara.

A severe heatwave has disrupted public transportation in Timișoara, Romania, leading to restrictions on tram services. The extreme temperatures have caused significant issues on the tram tracks, forcing authorities to take emergency measures to ensure passenger safety. On Monday, temperatures along the tram lines exceeded 60 degrees Celsius, causing the bitumen near the tracks to melt and adhere to the wheels of the trams. This situation posed a serious risk to both the vehicles and passengers, prompting the local public transport authority to impose temporary restrictions on tram operations.

The Service for Public Transport in Timișoara (STPT) explained that the melted bitumen, which normally ensures a seal between the tram track and the asphalt layer, became highly adhesive when exposed to high temperatures. As a result, the substance stuck to both the tracks and the tram bogies, creating hazardous conditions for movement. To prevent potential accidents, STPT decided to temporarily halt tram traffic on affected sections of the network until further notice. This decision aimed to allow for thorough cleaning of the tracks and necessary repairs to address the problems caused by the melted bitumen.

Florin Petolea, the general director of STPT, confirmed that over 40 employees were deployed both in the field and within the depot to handle the situation. These efforts continued throughout the night to ensure that tram services could resume safely once conditions improved. According to Petolea, out of the 36 trams scheduled to operate on Monday, only 21 remained in service due to the need to clean the bogies and resolve issues related to the bitumen adhering to the tracks. The remaining trams had been temporarily withdrawn from operation for these maintenance tasks.

The most severely impacted areas included the路段 from Boulevard General Ion Dragalina to North Station and from 700 Square to East Station. These sections remained closed to tram traffic until Wednesday afternoon. During this period, alternative routes were established to maintain some level of connectivity. Line 1 operated between North Station and Torontal, while Line 2 ran from Shopping City to Torontal. Additionally, Line 5 was adjusted to run between Ronaț and Dâmbovița. The section from East Station to Metro, Prince Turkish, 700 Square, Children's Hospital would be served by buses and minibuses instead of trams.

Timiș County remains under a red alert for heatwave conditions, which will persist until Wednesday when rain is expected. This weather pattern has created challenging conditions for urban infrastructure, particularly affecting road surfaces and rail systems. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that all necessary precautions are taken to safeguard public transport operations and passenger safety during this period of extreme heat.