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Deutsche Bahn Expands Bodycams, Protective Gear and AI Trials for Staff Safety

The move aims to curb a rise in attacks on rail staff after a fatal February assault by turning short pilot projects into permanent protections.

Overview

  • Deutsche Bahn presented initial pilot results in Frankfurt on Monday and said about one third of customer-facing staff have taken voluntary bodycams with a target of 50 percent by mid-year.
  • Bodycams currently record video only and footage is routed directly to the Bundespolizei under data‑protection rules while DB expects legal permission for audio recording by autumn.
  • The company is rolling out mandatory training for all customer-facing employees by summer or August and is testing operational changes such as double staffing or accompaniment by security personnel to reduce lone working.
  • Technical pilots will start or expand in the coming weeks, including AI real‑time analysis of camera feeds (building on a Bremen trial) and a July test of stab‑resistant vests with earlier helmet tests by DB Sicherheit.
  • Officials say the package could be written into transport contracts if proven effective, which would change staffing, equipment costs and how incidents are documented for police and prosecutors.