traffic - Railway resolves issues with dispatcher manning
In response to criticism from the Vogelsbergkreis regarding train disruptions and other issues on the railway between Gießen and Fulda, Deutsche Bahn has granted personnel allowances for the manning of signal boxes. The company apologized for the current restrictions and is taking steps "to keep the impact on passengers as small as possible," according to a statement provided in response to inquiries.
Although the majority of signal boxes in Hesse are still adequately staffed, the DB is experiencing the effects of demographic development and the general labor shortage, even with continuous personnel recruitment. These factors, along with increased absenteeism among staff, have become particularly noticeable in the signal boxes.
The employees in the signal boxes are highly specialized experts who are difficult to replace in the short term, explained the company. Few German companies employ as many new employees as Deutsche Bahn – approximately 130,000 in the past five years alone.
The Vogelsbergkreis criticized hours-long train disruptions and a lack of information on the so-called Vogelsbergbahn a few days ago. The railway is operated from Mittel- to Osthessen, crossing the Vogelsberg, by the Hessische Landesbahn (HLB). The regional transportation company informed customers on its website about disruptions in the railway section between Gießen and Großen Buseck and announced plans to establish a bus replacement service.
County: Situation for passengers "no longer tolerable"
The situation is "no longer tolerable" for passengers, the county administration criticized. One of the causes for the recent deterioration of the service on the line was named a personnel shortage in the DB InfraGo signal boxes (formerly DB Netz).
- The train failure and subsequent disruptions on the railway line between Gießen and Fulda have been a source of frustration for residents in the Vogelsbergkreis.
- Deutsche Bahn, acknowledging these issues, has granted personnel allowances to help manage the signal boxes along this railway line in Middle Hesse.
- The effects of demographic development and the general labor shortage have impacted German Railways (DB), causing challenges in staffing signal boxes, even with continuous recruitment.
- Last week, the Vogelsbergkreis criticized hours-long train disruptions and lack of information on the Vogelsbergbahn, which operates from Mittel- to Osthessen, crossing the Vogelsberg.
- In response, the Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) announced plans to establish a bus replacement service for the affected railway section between Gießen and Großen Buseck.
- The county administration in the Vogelsbergkreis stated that the current situation for passengers is "no longer tolerable" due in part to a personnel shortage in DB InfraGo signal boxes.
- With approximately 130,000 new employees hired in the past five years, Deutsche Bahn is one of the German companies with a significant number of new hires, yet the specialized nature of signal box employees makes rapid replacement difficult.
