The tragic death of a 36-year-old train conductor in Rhineland-Palatinate has ignited a national debate regarding security on Germany’s rail network. New data for 2025 reveals that violence against Deutsche Bahn (DB) staff has remained at an alarming level, with 2,689 offenses recorded—an average of eight attacks per day.
The controversy has been further fueled by statistics regarding the suspects. Out of 2,082 identified individuals, 45.3% were foreign nationals, despite making up only 16.9% of the population. Commenting on these figures on X, the AfD described the situation as “reaching alarming proportions.” The party argued that the data shows a “massive and significant overrepresentation” of foreigners in these crimes, asserting that “current migration policies are jeopardizing the safety” of workers. Their statement demanded a fundamental policy shift, arguing that criminal foreign nationals “must forfeit their right to hospitality and be consistently deported to their home countries.”
While DB continues to invest €200 million annually in security measures like bodycams and de-escalation training, the company remains committed to its “open system” of stations without ticket barriers.
To address the escalating tension, DB executive Evelyn Palla and Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder are convening a security summit. The meeting aims to coordinate efforts between 4,500 DB security staff and 6,000 federal officers, seeking a solution to what many now view as a critical failure in internal security.
