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EVG union threatens nationwide German rail strikes in January
The German railway union, EVG, has threatened nationwide strikes in regional rail services starting in January 2027. The union's ultimatum demands that the federal government introduce legislation to increase criminal penalties for attacks on train personnel before the end of this year.
The demand follows the fatal assault of conductor Serkan Çalar in February, for which a suspect was sentenced to ten years in prison. EVG leadership, including chairman Martin Burkert, criticized the government for inaction, stating that railway employees continue to face violence, with approximately eight attacks reported daily.
Proposed legislation aims to double the minimum prison sentence for attacks on emergency responders from three to six months. If the law is not brought to the Bundestag this year, works councils at DB Regio and private regional railways may refuse to approve January duty rosters, potentially causing significant disruptions for millions of commuters.
Entities
DB Regio · Deutsche Bahn · EVG · Martin Burkert · Serkan Çalar · Steffen Bilger
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] Approximately eight railway employees are attacked during their shifts every day. www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · www.upday.com · bahnblogstelle.com · www.zeit.de · www.nn.de · +2 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] A draft law proposes doubling the minimum prison sentence for attacks on emergency responders from three to six months. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · www.oldenburger-onlinezeitung.de · www.jungewelt.de
- [● 27 SOURCES] A passenger was sentenced to ten years in prison for the fatal assault of train conductor Serkan Çalar in February. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.onetz.de · +20 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Works councils may refuse to approve January duty rosters if the proposed safety legislation is not advanced. www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · bahnblogstelle.com · www.zeit.de · www.upday.com
- [● 27 SOURCES] The EVG union threatens nationwide regional rail strikes in January if a law increasing penalties for attacks on train staff is not introduced to the Bundestag this year. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · +21 more