- Persistent vandalism of trains resulting from graffiti markings.
Graffiti Defacement Regularly Plagues Trams and Local Trains in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Nationwide, the Cost of Repairs and Cleanups Totals Millions of Euros, with Damages in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Typically Being Less Severe, According to a dpa Survey.Views from Various Transport Providers in the North East:
ODEG: A representative from Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH (ODEG) declined to disclose specific figures, but admitted to an escalating trend of vandalism on trains, including graffiti, which necessitates increased cleanings and repairs. ODEG manages various regional rail lines in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, such as the one between Rostock and Binz, and another from Rehna to Parchim.
Rostock: The Rostock tramway company does not compile statistics on graffiti, a spokesperson revealed. Occasionally, trams are tagged. The size of the graffiti can vary, but it's particularly difficult to eliminate it from trams adorned with advertisements. "Upon removing the graffiti, the advertisement often suffers significant damage and sometimes even needs to be scrapped altogether," they stated. They couldn't supply a damage estimate. Vandalism in buses and trams is now quite uncommon, as all vehicles are now equipped with video surveillance.
Schwerin: The Nahverkehr Schwerin GmbH indicated that graffiti-related damages on vehicles remain relatively low. There are typically two to three instances a year. Last year's damages from graffiti and other acts of vandalism amounted to approximately 10,800 euros, a decrease from over 13,000 euros the previous year.
Millions in Nationwide Damages
A representative from Deutsche Bahn explained that these damages are only tracked nationwide and not by individual federal states. In 2023, Deutsche Bahn reported around 33,400 instances of vandalism, slightly fewer than in 2022 (35,000). The number of graffiti-related damages last year was approximately 22,700, down from 24,000 in 2022. "Regional hotspots for vandalism are usually metropolitan areas. The financial cost of graffiti remains consistently around 12 million euros," they said. Deutsche Bahn's security forces apprehend more than 3,200 vandals annually.
The graffiti on the heavily tagged trams and trains in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern necessitates extensive and costly cleanings for transportation companies like ODEG. Despite the challenges in removing graffiti from heavily advertised trams, it's still detrimental, causing significant damage to the advertisements.
