Attacks on railways: vida calls for a safety summit and clear measures against violence on trains
Violence against railway workers is increasing. After a serious assault in Styria and the fatal attack on a train conductor in Germany at the beginning of February, the trade union vida is sounding the alarm. Chairman Roman Hebenstreit is calling on the government and rail operators to hold a rapid safety summit – and concrete measures to protect employees and passengers.
Violence
Rail violence escalates
Train attendants, train drivers and other on-board personnel are responsible for the safety and mobility of thousands of people every day. But more and more often, they themselves are becoming the target of aggression and violence.
"We can no longer stand by and watch colleagues risk their health – in the worst case their lives – just to get people safely to their destination."vida-Vorsitzender
De-escalation training is important, but it does not replace structural security measures.
vida calls for safety summit with government and rail operators
The trade union vida is calling on the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of the Interior as well as the railway operators to convene a safety summit before the end of the month. The goal must be to adopt effective and binding measures.
Because one thing is clear: security must not depend on chance or the goodwill of individual companies. It needs political priority and clear responsibilities.
Two-pronged strategy: railway police and dual staffing
From the union's point of view, a sustainable, two-pronged strategy is needed:
1. Introduction of a specialized "railway police"
A separate security unit present in rail traffic could intervene quickly, have a preventive effect and increase the inhibition threshold for attacks. Public transport is part of the critical infrastructure – it also needs appropriate protection.
2. Double staffing on trains
In the future, the minimum standard of security must be double staffing - especially in the evening hours and on known problem lines.
A second employee acts as a deterrent and enables immediate support in an emergency. If you are serious about safety, you can't skimp on personnel.
Technical measures are not enough
Bodycams or partitions can be useful immediate measures. But they do not replace additional staff or a structural security strategy.
Workers in the rail sector need more than symbolic politics – they need real protection.
Security is not a question of budget
Railway workers ensure that hundreds of thousands of people travel safely every day. It is the task of politicians and companies to ensure their safety in return.
"Time is pressing. We expect a concrete date proposal for a security summit before the end of the month."vida-Vorsitzender
If you want to strengthen public transport, you also have to protect those who keep it running.
