Figures & measures Safety on trains and at stations is a concern for passengers, employees and politicians alike. Verbal attacks, physical assaults and a declining inhibition threshold towards railway staff have been making headlines for years. Figures from the Federal Police show a clear trend: violence in rail transport is on the rise – and the issue of rail safety is more pressing than ever.
Download the practical guide now ## Violence on trains and at stations: the statistics speak for themselves The Federal Police’s initial police statistics (PES) document the development of crime in stations and on trains. A look at recent years shows an alarming increase – especially in violent crimes. Anyone who wears a body cam knows the situation: things get loud, the situation escalates – and only then do you realise that the camera isn’t even running yet. This is precisely the problem that we at NetCo have been dealing with for years. Because even the best recording is useless if it starts too late.
In 2022, the Federal Police recorded around 23,110 violent crimes and 1,693 sexual offences. In addition, there were 1,107 weapons offences and 47,880 property offences. One year later, in 2023, violent crimes had already risen to 25,640 cases, sexual offences to 1,898 and property offences to 57,830. The latest available full-year figures for 2024 continue this trend: 27,160 violent crimes, 2,262 sexual offences, 1,238 weapons offences and 58,532 property offences. In the first half of 2025 alone, the Federal Police recorded 14,047 violent crimes and 1,076 sexual offences.
This means that within just two years, the number of violent crimes in the railway sector has risen by around 17.5 per cent. Sexual offences have also increased by more than 33 per cent. This development affects not only passengers – it primarily affects Deutsche Bahn employees who are in direct contact with travellers on a daily basis.
In 2025 alone, more than 3,000 attacks on employees were recorded – that’s an average of about eight attacks per day. About half of these attacks are against regional transport employees, for example during ticket inspections.
Violent crimes in 2024 0 Sexual offences in 2024 0 Attacks on employees in 2025 > 0 attacks per day (average) 0 ## What Deutsche Bahn is doing to ensure safety on trains and at stations Deutsche Bahn relies on a multi-level security concept that comprises various components. At the heart of this are DB Group Security and DB Security Services, whose employees maintain order at stations and on trains. Security personnel are specially trained in de-escalation and hazard prevention. We are working on enabling the camera to recognise when it is needed. Loud voices, aggressive gestures, hectic movements – these are all signals that an intelligently equipped body cam can respond to. Back in 2020, we presented a working prototype at the GPEC in Leipzig that recognises aggressive behaviour and automatically starts recording. That was long before the current AI hype began – and it was not a show effect, but a response to a real problem encountered in everyday operations.
On the government side, the Federal Police is responsible for rail transport security. Its area of responsibility covers around 5,700 stations and 33,500 kilometres of track throughout Germany. In acute emergencies, the respective state police force also intervenes.
In addition to personnel deployment, technical surveillance plays a central role: around 11,000 cameras are currently installed at railway stations. Around 57,000 cameras are installed in local and suburban trains, covering almost three quarters of all such vehicles.
The railway company has also established various protective measures for employees who have contact with customers: de-escalation training is part of regular training courses, and incidents can be reported directly via smartphone using a special app. Employees who have been victims of assault receive support from a team of around 60 psychologists and social counsellors.
Body-Cams at Deutsche Bahn: small cameras with a big impact One tool that is receiving particular attention in the current debate is small, body-worn cameras. These body-cams are already in use in various areas: by the police, DB security services and regional train staff.
Following the DB Security Summit on 13 February 2026, it has now been decided that all employees who have contact with customers in local and long-distance transport and at stations will be equipped with a body cam in 2026. Use of the cameras will be voluntary.
The operating principle of the body camera is simple but effective: the cameras do not run continuously, but are only switched on when a situation threatens to escalate. Deutsche Bahn reports consistently positive experiences, as conflicts often quickly calm down as soon as the other party notices the activated camera. The body camera offers a double benefit: they have a preventative effect by increasing inhibitions, and at the same time they secure evidence that can be decisive in subsequent criminal proceedings. Trade unions such as the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) had therefore called for a significant expansion of body-cam use and double staffing at Deutsche Bahn in the run-up to the DB security summit.
The railway environment in particular places special demands on professional body-cam solutions: a robust housing that can withstand physical altercations, intuitive one-button operation for stressful situations, long battery life for shift work and data protection-compliant storage of recordings. Last but not least, practical experience shows that body-cams are an effective tool for de-escalation on trains. ## DB Security and Group Security: Who keeps order? Organisational responsibility for security at Deutsche Bahn lies with DB Group Security. It coordinates all security-related measures and works closely with the Federal Police and state police authorities.
The DB Security Service provides the operational personnel who ensure the safety of passengers and employees at stations and on trains. The employees are specially trained to deal with conflict situations. Their tasks include patrolling stations, accompanying trains on particularly busy routes, working at major events and football matches, and cooperating with the federal police and local security authorities.
The security personnel are recognisable by their uniform DB security uniforms – the dark clothing with clearly visible lettering signals their presence and instils confidence in passengers. In addition to traditional patrol duties, their daily work includes assessing situations, emergency management and close coordination with the federal police.
Safety on trains: what passengers should know For passengers who feel unsafe on trains, there are various points of contact and behavioural tips. In an emergency, the federal police should be notified via the emergency number or the emergency call boxes at the station. On trains, passengers can contact train attendants or DB Security.
Deutsche Bahn also recommends reporting suspicious situations at an early stage and moving to busy areas of the train. Comprehensive video surveillance is not only intended to preserve evidence, but also to strengthen passengers’ subjective sense of security.
Nevertheless, surveys show that many passengers – especially women – feel uncomfortable on trains and at stations, particularly in the evening and at night. What to do in an emergency Call the emergency number or use the emergency telephone at the station. On the train: contact the train attendant or DB Security. Report suspicious situations early on and move to busy areas. × ## The DB Security Summit and the next steps The increasing violence in rail transport, most recently the fatal attack on a train attendant on a regional express train in Rhineland-Palatinate, has prompted Deutsche Bahn to convene a security summit. DB CEO Evelyn Palla announced in advance that she would bring together all relevant decision-makers to discuss greater safety on the railways, including representatives of the federal states, the Federal Ministry of Transport, trade unions, the federal police and the entire rail industry. The aim was to decide on short-term measures and clarify long-term financing issues. The planned security summit in Berlin makes it clear that Safety at Deutsche Bahn is no longer a marginal issue, but a task for society as a whole that requires decisive action from all parties involved. ## Learn about body-cam solutions for rail transport In our free practical guide, you will learn how modern body-cam technology and targeted de-escalation measures work together to effectively protect employees in rail transport.
- Tried-and-tested body-cam technology for the rail sector * GDPR-compliant evidence preservation on German servers * De-escalation strategies for train staff * Free consultation and customised solutions Download the practical guide now