Deutsche Bahn staff face rising attacks, with 5,5 assaults per day in 2026

Figures released by Germany’s Federal Interior Ministry have revealed that Deutsche Bahn staff members and federal transport police are increasingly victims of physical and verbal attacks while at work.

Increasing number of DB staff attacked at work

In the first five months of 2026, 1.630 Deutsche Bahn employees were attacked at work, according to figures released by the Federal Interior Ministry in response to a parliamentary request from Dietmar Bartsch (The Left Party).

Of these 1.630 attacks, 622 cases involved bodily harm, 175 involved dangerous bodily harm and 661 involved threats. There were also a total of 4.672 attacks directed at federal police officers, who are responsible for security on Deutsche Bahn trains.

Bartsch also requested figures for 2025. A comparison shows an increase in attacks against Deutsche Bahn staff and federal police officers working on Deutsche Bahn services. On an average day in 2025, five staff members or police officers were attacked; so far in 2026, this figure has risen to 5,5 per day.

Bartsch says DB must better protect staff

Speaking to the dpa, Bartsch said the figures “left him speechless”, and called on Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Deutsche Bahn boss Evelyn Palla to improve safety measures.

The safety of Deutsche Bahn employees has been an increasing concern since February, when a passenger assaulted a ticket controller, who died from his injuries around 24 hours later.

At the time, Dobrindt said, "The increasing violence against public service employees and other service providers, such as railway employees, must be met with decisive consequences." The 26-year-old attacker has now been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Deutsche Bahn said it would issue body cameras to 2.000 conductors and restaurant car employees to document any incidents and help “both passengers and staff feel [...] safe on trains”.