The SPD’s spokesperson for domestic affairs in the Bundestag, Sebastian Fiedler, has called on the German railway company to overhaul its structures after a fatal assault on a train attendant. The 36‑year‑old conductor, Serkan C., was struck by a 26‑year‑old passenger in a DB regional express on Monday evening, sustaining life‑threatening injuries. He was revived on the scene and taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds on Wednesday morning.
Fiedler, a former chief criminal investigator and member of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” warned that DB must no longer let security be subordinated solely to economic considerations. He pointed out that the rising number of assaults on employees at the parent company and its subsidiary DB Regio has not been adequately addressed, and that the new board has yet to earn any accolades in this regard.
He also criticized the use of external contractors for security tasks at Deutsche Bahn. “Subcontractors have no business there” he said. Meanwhile, the Schwarz‑rote coalition government is reforming the Federal Police Act, a process that will reshape jurisdictional responsibilities. Fiedler insists that the Bundespolizei must take a leading role in overseeing station and onboard safety, mirroring the standard practice at airports.
In short, the SPD member urges Deutsche Bahn to prioritize safety and accountability over commercial interests, and to give the federal police professional oversight of rail security.
