Nearly one in three Deutsche Bahn employees are weighing resignation, according to a recent EVG survey reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”. Over 4,000 staff members were asked why they might leave; a third singled out the escalating sense of insecurity and violence as their main reason.
The findings paint a stark picture. Two‑thirds of respondents now feel increasingly unsafe, while half have already been physically assaulted on the job. Among those who regularly interact with customers, 85 % have endured insults, name‑calling or even threats. Deputy EVG chairman Kristian Loroch warned that the “overwhelming violence is shaking the entire system” and that a company cannot absorb such a massive loss of personnel. He urged the railway companies and policymakers to tackle the problem or else see trains and buses suspended in short supply.
The survey mirrors a long‑standing trend that reached a tragic apex with the fatal attack on 36‑year‑old conductor Serkan C. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of physical offences doubled, rising from about 1,500 to more than 3,000 per year.
Employees are demanding concrete safety measures. The majority call for double crew assignments on trains and an increased presence of security staff. Sixty‑one per cent also want federal police on board for high‑risk routes. Drivers on buses, who are also represented by the EVG, are even more urgent: nine out of ten call for emergency‑call options, protected areas and video surveillance.