Deutsche Bahn to Equip Staff with Bodycams Following Fatal Attack on Conductor Serkan Çalar

Tragic Incident Prompts Major Security Overhaul

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced a significant expansion of security measures, including equipping all customer-facing staff with body cameras, following the fatal assault of conductor Serkan Çalar. The 36-year-old employee died in early February 2026 after being attacked during a ticket inspection on a regional train in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. This tragic event has spurred a comprehensive 'Action Plan for Greater Safety on the Railways' agreed upon by federal authorities, German states, trade unions, and transport industry representatives.

Details of the Fatal Attack

The incident occurred on February 2, 2026, on a regional express train traveling between Landstuhl and Homburg. Serkan Çalar was performing a routine ticket check when he was brutally attacked by a 26-year-old Greek national who reportedly refused to show a ticket. Çalar succumbed to his injuries two days later. The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack and is currently in pretrial detention, with prosecutors investigating the case as manslaughter. The death of Serkan Çalar has been widely condemned, with Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla describing it as a 'dark day' for the railway community.

Bodycams and Enhanced Security Measures

As a central component of the new security package, all Deutsche Bahn employees with direct customer contact—across local and long-distance services, as well as at stations—will be offered body cameras starting in 2026. The use of these bodycams will be voluntary. This initiative marks the first time DB has committed to group-wide bodycam coverage for its frontline staff. Beyond bodycams, the action plan includes several other key measures:

• Deployment of 200 additional DB Security personnel at stations.
• Upgrade of protective equipment and expansion of de-escalation training for staff.
• Wider rollout and upgrade of the internal emergency alert system, known as the 'priority call' button, to speed up response times.
• Changes to ticket inspection procedures within DB Regio, allowing staff discretion on whether to request identification from March 1, 2026, prioritizing staff safety over verification.
• Expanded video surveillance in trains and stations, alongside the implementation of AI-assisted video and audio analysis for early risk detection.
• Strengthening of criminal-law protections for railway employees to ensure more effective prosecution of attacks.

Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder emphasized the shared responsibility, stating, 'Train stations and trains must be safe places.' Concrete implementation steps for these measures are expected to be agreed upon by the end of April 2026.

Addressing Rising Violence Against Railway Staff

The new security measures come in response to a persistent increase in violence against railway employees. Deutsche Bahn reported 3,262 physical assaults on its staff in 2025, representing a 37% increase over the last decade. This upward trend underscores the growing operational pressure on frontline personnel and the urgent need for enhanced protection. The 'Action Plan for Greater Safety on the Railways' aims to shift focus from reaction to prevention and faster assistance, ensuring the safety of both employees and passengers across the German rail network.