Group security

In the first half of 2026, DB Group’s security activities focused on measures to improve employee safety. Growing aggression and a tendency toward violence in society affect DB employees as well as employees of law enforcement agencies, emergency services and social services. Every day, DB employees are subjected to insults, threats and physical attacks at stations and on trains. Following the fatal attack on a train attendant on a regional train in February 2026, senior representatives from the Federal Government, the Federal states, employee representatives, and the transport sector gathered in mid-February 2026 for a security summit initiated by DB Group. With the “Action plan for improved security in rail transport,” a comprehensive package of measures for the protection of public transport employees was established for the first time based on a broad consensus.

In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transport (Bundesministerium für Verkehr; BMV), the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern; BMI) and the Federal Police, a framework was developed that defines measures to enhance security for DB Group and other companies in the sector. In addition to the implementation of measures for which individual companies are responsible, the action plan includes overarching topics. In the best interests of the employees most of the measures are expected to take effect in 2026. More complex issues, such as adapting the legal framework for audio recordings from bodycams or examining whether attacks on employees of public undertakings should be specifically criminalized, were addressed and incorporated into the relevant political and administrative processes.

Implementation of the Action plan for improved security

• Increased police presence at stations: As part of the law enforcement partnership with DB Group that has been in place for over 25 years, one key contribution by the Federal Police to the security of the rail system is the performance of priority inspections at stations. There were more than 30 priority operations in the first half of 2026. In particular, a visibly larger number of police officers monitored compliance with bans on weapons and alcohol consumption, especially at major stations, and countered rising levels of violence and crime at stations through an increased police presence.
• Bodycams with audio recording capabilities: Initial discussions were held with the relevant ministries and Federal agencies to enable audio recordings from bodycams in the future. DB Regional aims to launch a pilot program in the fourth quarter of 2026. The goal is to further expand the de-escalating and protective effect of bodycams and to guarantee legal certainty. Audio recordings make it easier to trace the development of a conflict. This can help to improve prosecution.
• Bodycams at DB Long-Distance: Since July 1, 2026, DB Long-Distance provides bodycams to its employees on trains and in DB lounges. More than 2,000 employees have already signed up in advance voluntarily to use the bodycams. This represents about 25 % of the employees contacted during the first wave. An analysis of the pilot program, which has been in progress since August 2025, confirms the previous findings regarding the use of bodycams in other business units, based in part on reported incidents: employees wearing bodycams experienced significantly fewer personnel-related offenses compared to the control group. In addition to contributing to a subjective sense of security in everyday working life, the bodycams have a measurable de-escalating effect.
• Bodycams at DB Regional: In addition to security staff, who have been equipped with bodycams since 2016, about 6,000 train conductors on DB Regional’s local transport services now have the option of wearing bodycams while on duty on a voluntary basis. About 1,800 bodycams are currently part of the operational inventory which is being expanded in line with demand.
• Priority call at DB Regional: Priority call devices, which are typically worn as wristbands, have been mandatory equipment for all train conductors on local transport services since December 2025. In the future, the priority call is expected to be available also to traction unit drivers for voluntary use. These devices make it possible to quickly and discreetly report critical situations to the control center with the push of a button.
• Dual crew pilot project: DB Regional is working with the contracting organizations to determine the regional transport lines on which additional staffing is possible. Tests are being conducted in real-world settings to evaluate dual crews of train attendants, teams for priority inspections and the combined deployment of train conductors on local transport services and security staff.
• Protective helmets for staff in special operational situations: Particularly DB Group security staff working in Mobile Support Groups (Mobilen Unterstützungsgruppen; MUG), are deployed at large events and rallies or when soccer fans are traveling in large numbers. To ensure better protection, employees of the Berlin MUG have been provided with safety helmets as part of a pilot project. The goal is to gather experience by the end of 2026 in order to decide on their future use.

International cooperation

As part of DB Group’s international cooperation with the security departments of other European railways, the COLPOFER (Collaboration of Railway Police and Security Services) General Assembly was held in Germany in June 2026, with security experts from the railways of 34 countries in attendance. The dialog focused on topics such as protection against hybrid attacks, the compatibility of border controls with the security requirements of individual partners, operational railway requirements and freedom of movement of the Intra-EU transport. The role of European railways in military transport and civil defense, as well as in ensuring resilience in the event of a military crisis, is becoming increasingly important.

Protection of critical infrastructure

Working closely with the BMI and the BMV, DB Group is developing strategies for infrastructure protection, security concepts for critical processes and a reporting and notification system. The governing framework for this is the KRITIS Umbrella Act, which has defined the transposition of EU requirements into national law since March 2026. In addition to operational security measures involving technical and human resources, the focus is on the targeted implementation of redundancies for IT, switchgears and cable systems, as well as the increasing technical protection of outdoor facilities using innovative technologies.

Resilience of critical infrastructure

In April 2026, DB Group launched a cross-business unit project focused on the resilience of DB Group and its processes. The starting point was a variety of factors with a significant impact on processes within DB Group. The Resilience of Critical Infrastructure (Resilienz Kritischer Infrastrukturen; RKI) project analyzes cyber attacks, physical attacks on infrastructure, targeted efforts to obtain trade secrets, extreme weather events and the unstable global security situation, among other things. Following on from the identification of critical processes, a guideline for handling threats and a strategy for continuing as many processes as possible even in the event of disruptions are currently being developed. The goal is for technical, personnel and organizational measures to provide a framework that ensures that DB Group remains resilient and reliable even in extreme situations.

Expanded cooperation with municipal partners

DB Group’s law enforcement partnership with the Federal Police, with its technical and personnel resources, provides a solid foundation for security on trains and at stations. The cooperation that has evolved over the years at all levels of day-to-day operations is complemented by joint qualification programs for young talents in the police and security services, as well as joint research and academic work on security technologies and at the interface between security and social welfare. These interfaces require a high degree of sensitivity on the part of police and security staff, particularly at stations. Stations are more than just meeting places for passengers. Stations also reflect social trends that are shaped by the urban environment. For passengers, this can affect their subjective sense of security. Improving this is a key priority for DB Group and the Federal Police. A society-wide approach is required to improve the quality of stay at stations with regard to the interplay between security and social welfare, but above all with the interests of passengers in mind. Following initial collaborative projects with municipalities, municipal transport companies and social service providers, we are increasingly succeeding in improving the quality of stay. One key tool is the joint deployment of state and Federal police officers along with security staff from DB Group and municipal transport companies. Following a pilot program in Hamburg involving Quattro patrols – the combined presence of all agencies responsible for security and order at stations and in the surrounding area – there are signs of an improvement in the situation both in and around Hamburg central station. Thanks to agreements with local authorities, similar models were established in cities including Hanover, Bremen, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Essen, Dortmund and Cologne in the first half of 2026. Negotiations are underway at other locations to facilitate the joint deployment of law enforcement personnel.

In addition, municipalities are being called upon to step up their efforts to support people in precarious circumstances. To the extent that these individuals spend most of their time at stations, they can sometimes unsettle passengers and tie up the resources of security and police staff through their behavior. Providing support for these groups of people can overwhelm law enforcement agencies, as neither DB Group nor the Federal Police are able to provide the more comprehensive social support that is required. With this in mind, DB Group is stepping up its dialog with municipalities that are home to large and medium-sized stations in order to define a shared responsibility for the stations and their surrounding areas and develop joint plans to improve the quality of stay for passengers both in and around the stations.