The fact that train traffic does not work for hours in large parts of Germany should not happen again. Deutsche Bahn therefore wants to strengthen security controls and expand network capacities. It is still unclear who is behind the act of sabotage from a week ago.
After the sabotage attack on the Deutsche Bahn radio network about a week ago, the group wants to arm itself against system failures with additional network capacities, among other things. The group informed the supervisory board about this at a special meeting, according to circles of the control committee. The aim is therefore to set up further so-called redundancies in the network, either by using free capacities or by laying new cables.
In addition, the railways are planning more security checks along the routes, also in cooperation with the federal police. In the case of objects in need of protection, the security concepts should also be checked in cooperation with the authorities.
Last weekend, unknown perpetrators cut off an important radio network on the railways in two different places in North Rhine-Westphalia and in Berlin, which is used, among other things, by engine drivers and control centers to communicate with each other. As a result, rail traffic in northern Germany came to a complete standstill for several hours. Throughout the day, there were also subsequent delays and train cancellations in other regions.
The Supervisory Board has not yet announced the status of the investigation. In the meantime, the federal prosecutor’s office has taken over the investigation. Because of possible anti-constitutional sabotage, the authorities in Karlsruhe initiated proceedings against unknown persons on Thursday, she said.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn has special precautions for top politicians and celebrities with a high security status. “In rail transport – just like in road or air traffic – the special protection and safety needs of exposed people in public life must be taken into account, partly on the basis of specifications from the safety authorities,” said the railway on request. At Bahn there is a group regulation for this from 2010. The “Spiegel” reported on this.
According to the report, the directive provides, among other things, that trains are checked particularly carefully before such journeys. The railway has not yet provided any information on the specific rules. “One thing is clear: the transport takes place within the framework of a public timetable, and no special stops are granted. Passengers also travel at their own expense with regular tickets,” said a spokesman. Bahn board members could also not make use of the guideline.
