Personal safety is a crucial promise on buses and trains – not only for passengers, but also for transport company employees. With a situation analysis, practical examples and debates, the 1st Public Transport Security Conference on May 21 and 22, 2025 in Berlin offered a new platform for security in local transport. A good 100 participants from the public transport industry, security organizations and social associations, politics and administration illustrate the relevance of the topic.
Safety issues are also always about reducing barriers to using public transport, emphasized Alexander Möller, Managing Director of Public Transport at the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). It is also often not possible to retain or attract employees because fears play a role in the context of safety. As the largest industry association, the VDV was the specialist partner of the 1st Public Transport Safety Conference, which was organized by the DVV Media Group with its NaNa Nahverkehrs-Nachrichten media brand.
The numerous dimensions of personal safety on public transport were highlighted with contributions from the Federal Police Headquarters, the Lower Saxony State Office of Criminal Investigation and the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office. Experts from the industry also presented solutions and experiences, from “cleaning patrols” in the Berlin subway to offensive security communication in Hamburg and findings from the “Security Station” research project. The discussion rounds on the proposal of “women’s compartments” in trains and on the question of the selection and qualification of security personnel were also followed with great interest. One thing became clear again and again on both days: security in local public transport is not just a matter for the transport companies, but requires the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders from the authorities, security and affected parties.
image source: VDV / Michael Fahrig
