Safe journeys through regional railways in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
Stand: 11.06.2025, 12:10 PM
Riding the Rails in NRW: A bundle of nerves or a piece of cake?
By Toby "Taz" Zacher
Hopping on a Regional Express, Regional Train, or S-Bahn in North Rhine-Westphalia is generally safe, but the perception? Not so much. That's according to the state-wide security report for rail passenger transport (SPNV) in North Rhine-Westphalia for the year 2024.
Nearly 43,000 Incidents
Oliver Wittke (VRR)
Last year saw a total of 42,986 so-called incidents in trains and at stations. The total number of incidents has increased by almost 12 percent compared to the previous year, but remains at a low level. This becomes clear when comparing the number of incidents to the number of passengers: The SPNV in NRW records around 1.5 million trips per day from Monday to Friday. The risk in the trains is therefore said to be low, according to Oliver Wittke, the chairman of the executive board of the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR), when presenting the report.
The Usual Suspects
The most common type of incident was, you guessed it, fare evasion ("unauthorized use of services") with 14,956 cases. Insults (6,678 cases), damage to property (4,617), and harassment (4,138) weren't far behind.
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A Cloudy Sense of Security
Despite these relatively rare incidents, the subjective sense of security among passengers is significantly worse. Only 48 percent of passengers in local transport stated that they feel "almost always" safe. A third of passengers even skip trips because they feel unsafe in local transport.
To boost the feeling of security, video surveillance, and security personnel in trains are being thrown into the mix, Wittke explained.
Safety Alarm, Desensitize
Rail Regional Transport in NRW: All aboard!
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Against the Staff
The number of incidents against train staff has skyrocketed: There were 1,306 threats in trains, most of which were directed against control and security personnel. In fact, the increase is a whopping 17 percent. Wittke attributes this development to societal trends, stating there's a "growing disrespect for rules and authorities."
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Our sources:
- SPNV security report NRW 2024
- Press conference with Oliver Wittke
- VRR statements
- Own research
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Facing the Storm
Recent incidents elsewhere in Germany have raised broader concerns about public safety. For instance, a mass stabbing occurred at Hamburg Central Station, and another incident was reported in Bielefeld. These incidents weren't specifically about train staff, but they do highlight the need for enhanced security measures across the entire transportation system.
Solutions to tackle these escalating issues include:
- Enhanced security measures such as increased presence of security personnel, more cameras, and secure communication systems.
- Training staff on conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques, and providing mental health support and resources.
- Engaging communities and encouraging public reporting of suspicious activities, addressing underlying social and economic issues, and integrating technology for enhanced monitoring.
- In the field of transportation, the finance industry could take a more active role in funding enhanced security measures for rail regional transport in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- The increasing number of incidents against train staff highlights the need for collaboration between the transportation and finance industries to address growing disrespect for rules and authorities in the industry.
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