The train conductor did not survive the attack during the ticket inspection. Five such incidents occur daily on regional lines.
In Germany, the railway and transport union EVG is calling for measures against the increasing aggression of passengers towards train staff following the death of a conductor on Tuesday. A passenger on a regional train in Rhineland-Palatinate did not purchase a ticket. Shortly after departing from the Landstuhl station, he attacked the conductor who approached him and severely beat him. The 36-year-old regional express employee died in the hospital.
The attacker, a Greek citizen without permanent residence in Germany, was detained at the scene by law enforcement. The Kaiserslautern public prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation on suspicion of murder.
Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla wrote that she is shocked by what happened. The railway and transport union also expressed its condolences to the deceased's family and honored his memory with a moment of silence. "Today, the railway family is in shock," said Martin Burkert, chairman of EVG.
He promised to "literally start putting pressure on the authorities from tomorrow." "This brutal attack must serve as a reason for rethinking. We expect immediate measures to enhance security from politicians. Such incidents must not happen again," he stated.
His position is shared at the highest political levels. "The increasing cases of violence against public service employees and other organizations providing services, such as railway workers, require decisive action," said Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). He calls for significantly tightening and expanding the range of penalties. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig assured the public that "the state will not remain silent, and the perpetrator will be held accountable."
Member of the Bundestag Dietmar Bartsch requested statistics from the government on attacks on the railway from January to the end of October 2025. It turned out that, on average, five physical attacks on Deutsche Bahn employees on duty occurred daily during this period. Threats without physical confrontation are also common: they occur on average four times a day.
Half of the attacks involve train staff on regional lines, but cleaners and service personnel at stations are also subjected to attacks.
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