""We are distraught and stunned but, most of all, we're angry," said EVG boss Martin Burkert. "We cannot accept that train conductors face life-threatening danger when starting their shifts.""
""For years now, savings have been made at the expense of the security of train staff and passengers," said Burkert. "Many regional trains only have one conductor, and there's hardly ever security. How many more orgies of violence must we endure before something finally changes?""
A 36-year-old conductor, identified as Serkan C.*, was assaulted by a ticketless passenger on a train near Kaiserslautern and died of his injuries 24 hours later. A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter. Deutsche Bahn figures show an average of five staff members are physically assaulted every day, with four more threatened. A 2024 EVG survey found eight in ten employees experienced verbal or physical abuse, with 36% feeling unsafe; many reported being spat at, having objects thrown and being shoved. DB offers voluntary body cameras and trains have CCTV, while unions call for more funding, two-person conductor teams or security presence to improve safety.
Read at www.dw.com
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