26-year-old railway employee falls from regional train during inspection – condition critical

According to the investigators' account, the 36-year-old initially insulted the two security employees. When they attempted to remove him from the train, he kicked violently at them. A physical altercation ensued between the passenger and the 26-year-old security guard.

As a result, the young railway employee lost his balance and was thrown with considerable force against the already damaged door of the train. Through a gap between the door and the floor, the 26-year-old fell from the train – precisely 900 meters before Ettlingen-Bruchhausen station at a speed of around 120 km/h. Shortly afterward, he was found with the most severe injuries.

Condition of the injured and investigations

Whether the injured man is in a coma or responsive could not be confirmed by a spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office on Saturday, citing reasons of personal privacy protection. His condition is described as critical by the attending physicians.

Deutsche Bahn expressed dismay over the incident. "Unsere Gedanken sind bei dem Verletzten," said a railway spokesperson. Further details were not initially provided. Whether the train in question was an older model was also not disclosed, citing the ongoing investigations.

Reactions from Deutsche Bahn

The railway spokesperson condemned the attack on the security personnel. "Wir verurteilen den Angriff am gestrigen Abend in einer Regionalbahn aufs Schärfste," she said. The company announced that it would comprehensively review the incident and examine its own security standards.

The Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft (EVG) responded with sharp criticism of the violence. The state chairman Manuel Amberger stated that the terrible incident once again dramatically demonstrates "dass verbale und körperliche Übergriffe auf das Zugpersonal eine neue, lebensgefährliche Dimension erreicht haben." The EVG has long demanded better protective measures for personnel in local public transport.

Union criticism

The union of railway employees also expressed outrage. "Dass erneut einer unserer Kollegen nach einer einfachen Fahrkartenkontrolle im Krankenhaus um sein Leben ringen muss, macht uns fassungslos und wütend," it said in a statement. The union called for attacks on railway employees to be prosecuted more consistently under criminal law.

The 36-year-old passenger was arrested during the night and is in custody. The public prosecutor's office had applied for an arrest warrant on suspicion of attempted manslaughter and dangerous bodily harm. However, the responsible district court rejected this application, as a spokesperson announced. The exact reasons for the rejection were not initially made public.

Arrest warrant rejected – investigations ongoing

The investigations into the exact course of events are ongoing. The police secured evidence in the train and interviewed witnesses who had observed the incident. Video recordings from the Regional Express are also to be evaluated in order to reconstruct the exact sequence of the altercation.

The case has triggered a nationwide debate about the safety of railway personnel. In recent months, there have been repeated reports of violent attacks on train attendants and inspectors. The EVG is therefore demanding, among other measures, the deployment of federal police officers on trains as well as better technical securing of doors.

According to the union, cases of insults and physical attacks on security personnel in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg have nearly doubled over the past two years. The industry speaks of an alarming development that massively undermines employees' confidence in their daily work.

Debate on safety in local public transport

Deutsche Bahn announced that it would support the affected employee and his family as best as possible during this difficult time. Psychological support is also being offered. "Unser gesamtes Team ist in Gedanken bei unserem Kollegen und hofft auf seine Genesung," the railway spokesperson stated.

The public prosecutor's office announced that the case would be handled with high priority. Should the suspicion be substantiated, the decision regarding an arrest warrant would be reviewed again. Until then, the 36-year-old will remain in custody.

The incident on the route near Ettlingen-Bruchhausen is part of a series of incidents that are increasingly burdening railway security personnel. The union warns that without decisive countermeasures, the personnel shortage in the security service will worsen further.