Deutsche Bahn will gradually equip more than 2,000 long-distance train employees with bodycams as an additional safety measure for staff and passengers. Use of the cameras will be voluntary, and their introduction is part of a broader plan to increase rail safety.
Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s state-owned rail operator, is beginning to introduce body cameras for long-distance service employees.
In the first phase, the measure targets more than 2,000 employees of DB Fernverkehr, the German group’s long-distance rail division. This includes train attendants, on-board catering staff, and reception staff at DB lounges.
The use of body cameras will be voluntary, according to the company.
“Travel on long-distance trains is safe. To ensure that passengers and employees continue to feel well cared for and safe on our trains, we are introducing body cameras as an additional safety measure,” said Michael Peterson, a member of DB’s executive board responsible for long-distance transport.
Training Before Using the Cameras
Before body cameras are used in day-to-day operations, DB employees will undergo a training program.
The training covers conditions of use, the legal framework, reporting requirements, practical operation of the equipment, and how to manage the cameras.
DB states that body cameras serve a preventive purpose and can help deter violence, reduce incidents, and preserve evidence when conflicts arise.
The company emphasizes that they are intended as a supplementary measure, especially in cases where attempts to defuse a situation on board are unsuccessful.
The union accepts the measure but insists on voluntary participation
The introduction of bodycams is also supported by employee representatives, provided that their use remains voluntary.
“If employees say they feel safer with a bodycam, that is an important signal. That is why we support the introduction of bodycams at DB Fernverkehr and welcome the fact that their use remains voluntary,” said Manfred Scholze, chairman of the DB Fernverkehr General Staff Council.
Additional information about the use of bodycams will be available through the usual customer contact channels, including the ICE portal and the DB website.
Part of a Rail Safety Plan
The introduction of body cameras is part of the “Action Plan for Greater Rail Safety”, adopted by Deutsche Bahn in collaboration with federal authorities, the states, labor unions, and the transportation industry.
The measure comes at a time when the number of attacks on railway employees has been rising for several years, according to the company.
One tragic incident cited by DB is the brutal and fatal attack on railway employee Serkan Çalar, which occurred in early February.
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