Railroad - State contributes financially to train safety
In response to incidents on the Suhl-Erfurt railway line, the state has financially contributed to the deployment of additional security services. Infrastructure Minister Susanna Karawanskij (Left) announced this on Friday in Erfurt. The state government takes the situation very seriously. Therefore, contracts have been signed with the South Thuringia Railway and the DB Regio AG - initially until December 2024. "We are investing around 336,000 Euro for safety in the trains," said Karawanskij.
Trained security personnel should be deployed in RE 7, RE 50, and RB 44 trains to improve the safety of train personnel and passengers and to conduct ticket checks in the trains. The South Thuringia Railway has been employing security personnel at its own expense since the previous fall. DB Regio trains will follow the route Erfurt–Suhl starting from 1st July 2024 with security personnel. Additionally, according to company statements, the first employees will be equipped with bodycams in the trains from the autumn.
In the past few months, there have been issues with ticket checks, for example, with young men from the refugee accommodation in Suhl, but also with German passengers who have become aggressive. Alcohol and drugs have also played a role among the passengers on this route.
At the end of the year 2024, a reassessment of the situation should be made, and a decision on the extension of financing may be made. Karawanskij stated that there should be a binding quota of ten percent for security personnel in future transport contracts.
The works council of the Süd-Thüringen-Bahn GmbH informed Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left) about the incidents in a letter in March and requested support. In the refugee accommodation of the state, more knowledge about the use of buses and trains should be imparted. The ministry spoke of an "intensification of preventive measures within the refugee accommodation".
The additional security services deployed on the Suhl-Erfurt railway line are primarily responsible for protecting both train personnel and passengers in RE 7, RE 50, and RB 44 trains. Unexpectedly, DB Regio trains will begin operating on the Erfurt–Suhl route, implementing safety measures starting from July 2024. Furthermore, the South Thuringia Railway and DB Regio AG have signed contracts with the Thuringian government till December 2024, allocating approximately 336,000 Euros towards enhancing overall train safety.
