German rail union threatens nationwide regional strikes in January over safety laws

Strike ultimatum over stalled safety legislation

Germany's railway and transport union EVG has threatened to halt regional passenger rail traffic across the country in January if the federal government does not introduce legislation to increase penalties for attacks on train crews into the Bundestag before the end of the year. The union announced that its works councils at DB Regio and private regional railway operators will withhold required approval for January 2027 duty schedules unless the draft law moves forward. EVG chairman Martin Burkert told Bild am Sonntag that political leaders had offered verbal sympathy without concrete action following violent incidents against transit employees.

The promised law for harsher penalties for attacks on train staff must enter the Bundestag this year, otherwise we will shut down operations in January.

Burkert accused the government of neglecting frontline railway personnel and asserted that while politicians have forgotten the deceased train conductor, the union has not.

There were concerned faces and big words from politicians, but no actions. The government is refusing to work, and railway workers are paying for it with their health or even their lives.

Violence against staff and the February killing

The union's ultimatum stems directly from the death of conductor Serkan Çalar, who was attacked and fatally injured by a passenger during a ticket check aboard a Regionalexpress train in early February. The passenger responsible for the fatal attack was later convicted of bodily injury resulting in death and sentenced to ten years in prison. Union officials pointed out that train conductors face growing hostility from travelers, ranging from verbal abuse over service delays and missed connections to physical assaults.

Ralf Damde, chairman of the general works council at DB Regio, stated that statistically eight railway employees are attacked while on duty each day. Damde explained that staff members currently start their shifts without knowing whether they will return home safely. He warned that if the legislation continues to stall within the ministry, works councils will refuse approval for the upcoming schedules, turning political stagnation into an operational shutdown for passenger trains.

Coalition negotiations over criminal penalties

Following the fatal February incident, the federal government indicated plans to include railway employees as a specially protected occupational category in a draft bill prepared by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig. That legislative draft was originally structured to stiffen criminal penalties for attacks on first responders, including emergency paramedics, firefighters, doctors, and nursing staff. Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger stated that train safety is not a marginal issue but a fundamental requirement for functioning public transit, pledging internal government discussions to ensure railway staff receive equal legal protection.

A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Justice confirmed that the draft bill remains in inter-ministerial coordination. The ministry stated that its official target is to enable the Bundestag to review and potentially pass the law before the conclusion of the year. The spokesperson did not specify whether train conductors will be explicitly incorporated into the final version of the draft bill presented to lawmakers.