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Train Nomad Becomes Zugführer at TRI After Years Living in the ICE

His paid role gives a rare frontline view that highlights poor delay communication, staff shortages and ageing signalling on Germany’s rail network.

Overview

  • Lasse Stolley has lived on Deutsche Bahn trains as a mobile home for nearly four years while working as a software developer and running a public blog with tips and a custom app to find free seats.
  • Since January 2026 he is employed full time as a Zugführer at private operator TRI Train Rental, and he now spends about five nights per week in hotels instead of sleeping most nights on trains.
  • Stolley travels with a 35‑liter backpack and a Bahncard 100 for first class, which gives lounge access; he showers at public pools, washes clothes by hand on trains, and built an app to locate empty carriages for sleeping.
  • From the dual standpoint of passenger and crew member he calls for clearer delay information, earlier construction notices, more drivers and dispatchers, and a broad renovation of old signals and track equipment.
  • He also stresses Germany’s strengths — high train frequency and wide network coverage — and says his inside experience could help shape practical fixes and public debate about staffing and infrastructure priorities.