Safety Crisis at Deutsche Bahn: One in Three Employees Considers Quitting

The German rail sector is grappling with a crisis of dual dimensions: staff safety and workforce stability. The trade union Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft (EVG) published the results of an extensive survey that revealed the dramatic scale of violence experienced by employees of Deutsche Bahn. The study, reported by leading German media on Friday, indicates that around 30 percent of respondents are considering resigning due to escalating aggression from passengers. The problem is not new, but according to unionists, it has intensified in recent years, becoming a daily reality for train drivers, conductors, and station staff.

The EVG survey, conducted among thousands of employees, found that the direct cause of considerations to change jobs are experiences with physical and psychological violence. Employees report incidents including threats, verbal abuse, intimidation, and also cases of assault. Evening and night shifts, as well as routes passing through areas with heightened social problems, are particularly dangerous. The union emphasizes that the number of reported attacks is systematically rising, and the sense of security among crews is plummeting. Deutsche Bahn, being the main rail operator in Germany, has for decades been the country's transport backbone. The company, a former state monopoly, was transformed into a joint-stock company but still remains majority-owned by the state treasury. Its employees, especially those in direct customer contact, have traditionally been exposed to conflicts, but the current scale of the phenomenon is unprecedented and reflects broader social problems.

The reaction of Deutsche Bahn's management to the EVG report was immediate but, according to unionists, insufficient. Railway representatives admitted that aggression against employees is "unacceptable" and announced specific steps. Plans include increasing the number of security patrols at stations and on trains, installing additional surveillance cameras, and intensifying cooperation with the police. A new social campaign aimed at building mutual respect between passengers and staff was also announced. „Gewalt darf nicht zum Alltag in unserer Arbeit werden. Wenn unsere Kolleginnen und Kollegen Angst haben, zur Arbeit zu gehen, ist das ein Alarmsignal für die gesamte Gesellschaft.” (Violence must not become part of our daily work. When our colleagues are afraid to go to work, it is an alarm signal for the entire society.) — Martin Burkert, Vice-Chairman of EVG EVG, however, believes this is too little and demands systemic change. Key demands are harsher penalties for perpetrators of violence, the introduction of mandatory, regular training in dealing with aggression for all frontline workers, and a real, tangible improvement in personal protection while performing duties.

Potential mass departures of experienced employees pose a real threat to the functioning of German railways, which already struggle with chronic staffing problems. The industry has been grappling with a shortage of train drivers and technicians for years, and recruitment and training processes are lengthy. The safety crisis could significantly accelerate the outflow of personnel, deepening existing operational difficulties such as delays and cancellations. The situation also has an economic dimension – the costs of increased security, social campaigns, and potential compensation and sick leave related to stress will burden the operator's budget. The issue extends beyond the framework of an internal company problem, becoming a significant topic of public debate about the state of safety, travel culture, and employer responsibility for protecting the health and lives of its employees in infrastructure crucial to the state.