Just before the major security summit for Deutsche Bahn (DB) on Friday, the company had already set some first steps in motion. From now on, body‑camera training is mandatory for all 5,200 customer‑service officers in the local network (KiN) and for every inspector on long‑distance trains (PiR), the DB Regio works council announced – information reported by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
In addition, bodycams are no longer being sold on request; they have been pre‑ordered in bulk. “We bought the entire market out” said Ralf Damde, head of the DB Regio works council. “That sends an important signal”. However, wearing a camera remains voluntary – those who do not wish to use one are not obliged.
The works council considers bodycams “a proven instrument for de‑escalating dangerous situations”. They only achieve full protection when worn consistently. Consequently the council urges all staff: “Please use the body‑camera. Every camera in use enhances security and has a preventative effect for everyone”.
A core demand for the summit is a mandatory double‑staffing of all regional trains. “That will cost money” Damde told the SZ, “but it is a worthwhile investment”. He argues that the system has systematically saved on staffing for too long. “When it comes to safety, penny‑saving is no good”. He also calls for the ability to record sound with the bodycams – a feature currently blocked by data‑protection concerns.
Damde wants to link the bodycams to the so‑called “Prio‑Ruf” an alarm button that the train attendant can use to alert the control centre in an emergency. The alarm should in the future also be triggered when the bodycam is turned on. He now seeks a joint effort from the federal government, the railway and the states: “Only together can we regulate a topic like this. We need all parties to pull together and arrive at solutions for our staff”.
Meanwhile, the Police Union (GdP) and the passenger association Pro Bahn call for an increase in security personnel. Andreas Roßkopf, head of the GdP’s federal police division, told the Funke‑Media group that roughly 3,500 federal police officers are missing at German stations and stopping points. They would be needed to patrol proactively and, in trains, to act as a patrol shift.
Roßkopf also stressed that the federal police need a real means of control at stations. Presently, legally they are not in a position to check people who behave suspiciously on the platforms. This is a major problem. “We do not want arbitrary control; ultimately everything must be bound by proportionality”.
Karl‑Peter Naumann, honorary chairman of the passenger group Pro Bahn, likewise demanded more staff at stations and on trains. He said a sufficient number of publicly funded, well‑trained security forces is required. Naumann did not only refer to police. “When security staff – as has already become common – wear their yellow vests on the station floor and answer simple questions, such as directions to the subway, they become part of everyday life. Passengers will turn to them when they notice unusual behaviour” he said. “The same applies on trains”.
This Friday the Deutsche Bahn headquarters in Berlin hosts a security summit. Attendees include DB chief Evelyn Palla, transport minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU), representatives from states, security agencies, the transport industry and trade unions. The summit is triggered by the death of a 36‑year‑old train attendant who, in early February, was fatally injured in a regional express in Rhineland‑Palatinate when struck by a fare‑evader and later died from his injuries.
