Germany: Train conductor dies after attack by passenger

Kaiserslautern: A train conductor has died after being attacked during a routine ticket inspection on a train near the southwestern German city of Kaiserslautern, the Süddeutsche Zeitung broadsheet and other media reported on Wednesday.

The victim, named as 36-year-old Serkan C.*, was reportedly assaulted by a ticketless passenger on Monday night and beaten up so badly that he died of his injuries 24 hours later.

The alleged attacker, a 26-year-old man, was arrested at the scene and is being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said he was "shocked, shaken and deeply saddened" by the incident, adding that he expected the attacker "to be punished with the full force of the law for his brutal act." 

"The increasing violence against public service employees and other service providers, such as railway employees, must be met with decisive consequences," Dobrindt said. 

Rising violence against train staff
Physical and verbal attacks on German train conductors have been increasing in recent years.

According to official figures from national rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB), an average of five staff members are physically assaulted every day, with four more facing threats.

A 2024 survey by the German railway and transport union (Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft or EVG) found that eight out of ten employees had been victims of verbal or physical abuse, with 36% saying they felt unsafe doing their job.

Many reported having been spat at (43%), having objects thrown at them (41%) or having been shoved (35%).

Train union calls for more security for staff
"We are distraught and stunned but, most of all, we're angry," said EVG boss Martin Burkert. "We cannot accept that train conductors face life-threatening danger when starting their shifts."

Since 2024, DB has offered train staff the opportunity to voluntarily wear body cameras when on shift, while trains are also equipped with CCTV cameras. But the EVG has called for greater funding so that conductors can operate in teams in two or be accompanied by security if necessary.

"For years now, savings have been made at the expense of the security of train staff and passengers," said Burkert. "Many regional trains only have one conductor, and there's hardly ever security. How many more orgies of violence must we endure before something finally changes?"

The new chief executive of Deutsche Bahn, Evelyn Palla, who took on the role in October last year, condemned the attack and said her colleague had "just been doing his job" when he was "brutally assaulted."

She thanked a German Bundeswehr soldier who reportedly administered first aid at the scene and said her thoughts were with the victim's family, but warned: "The threshold for violence in our society is getting lower. Crimes like this should give us all a wake-up call."