The SPD’s internal‑policy group in the Bundestag is demanding that DB Sicherheit GmbH be nationalised and that all security duties be concentrated within the Federal Police.
This demand is set out in a position paper dated 13 January, but it has become even more urgent after a fatal attack on a train guard earlier this week. The paper states that it is “security‑wise necessary to organise protection and safety tasks in the critical‑infrastructure sector in a long‑term reliable, nationwide and state‑responsible manner”.
To achieve this, the SPD politicians propose creating a new unit inside the Bundespolizei called the “Zentralen Objektschutz Bahn” (ZOS Bahn) and transferring DB Sicherheit into this unit. They argue that doing so will best meet the system‑relevance and the “potential vulnerability” of the rail network. Because of the tightening security situation, the paper insists that protective services must not be deprived of state control through private takeover; “security standards must not depend on commercial interests”.
DB Sicherheit GmbH is a subsidiary of the German rail group, and together with its subcontractors it employs about 5,000 people. The company holds the property rights for all trains, stations, and facilities of Deutsche Bahn. Nevertheless, the security of rail traffic is a sovereign task of the Bundespolizei, which is usually stationed at stations.
According to the SPD’s analysis, rail security today is characterised by parallel responsibilities and the simultaneous presence of multiple actors. “Different standards, authorities, and responsibilities lead to coordination problems, friction losses, and an uneven level of protection” the position paper notes.
