German railway employees are experiencing a growing threat of large-scale staff departures. According to a survey conducted by the trade union EVG and reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”, almost one in three staff members is considering resigning. A third of the more than 4,000 respondents cited a rise in insecurity and violence as the main reason.
The survey found that two‑thirds feel increasingly unsafe at work, and half of all employees have already suffered a physical assault. Among those who interact with customers, 85 % have faced insults, slurs or even threats. “The pervasive violence is rocking the entire system” warned deputy EVG chairman Kristian Loroch, pointing to the high number of workers who may leave the profession. “A company cannot compensate for such a massive loss of personnel”. The union says that both railway operators and policymakers must finally tackle the problem. “Otherwise, large numbers of trains and buses could soon be stranded due to staff shortages”.
These findings confirm a long‑standing trend that culminated in the fatal attack on 36‑year‑old conductor Serkan C. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of physical assaults had more than doubled, from 1,500 to over 3,000 per year.
The staff’s main demands are the deployment of double crews on trains and increased security presence. Sixty‑one percent also call for federal police presence on high‑risk routes. Among bus drivers, who are represented by the same union, the call for safety is even stronger: nine out of ten urgently want emergency call options, more protected areas, and video surveillance.
