The following gives an indication as to how quickly German railway repair forces were able to make a destroyed line operable again:
11 July 1941 - 4th Pz Group reaches Porkhov; 18 July 1941 - 1st DRG train arrives same 23 August 1941 - 4th Pz Group reaches Luga; 23 August 1941 - as above 08 August 1941 - 16th Armee reaches Staraya Russa; 29 September 1941 - as above