Train failures in Hesse: Lack of staff causes major problems!

Train failures in Hesse: Lack of staff causes major problems!

This week there are massive train failures between Wiesbaden and Koblenz. According to the private rail operator Via, the reasons for this are due to an acute lack of personnel. In particular, the Rheingauline runs on the right side of the Rhine until Friday only once an hour between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. Deutsche Bahn explains that an above -average sick leave in the Oberlahnstein signal box is responsible for the tense personnel situation. Because this signal box controls the entire train operation between Wiesbaden and Niederlahnstein.

In response to the situation, Deutsche Bahn has already taken measures. At the moment, new employees are being actively sought for the Oberlahnstein signal box. The HR department relies on advertising campaigns, weekly applicant days and even "speed dating formats" to win young people. In addition, the training capacities were massively expanded, with almost 2,000 retraining and 850 new trainees per year.

practical effects of personnel shortage

From now on, half of all long -distance trains will also fail in Koblenz, which represents a direct reaction to the unstable personnel situation. The aim of Deutsche Bahn is to increase both the stability of the company and to stabilize the personnel situation by the end of 2025 to ensure regular rail traffic on the right side of the Rhine. Three new employees are currently being incorporated into the Oberlahnstein signal box, which are supposed to take up their work in spring.

The problem is not isolated: there are often train failures in Hesse due to unoccupied signal greater, which indicates a general shortage of skilled workers among train traffic controls. 442 signals are in use in Hesse, and demographic change continues to promote the challenge because more employees retire than new specialists. Shift services and the unknown of the profession have a deterrent to potential trainees.

the broader perspective

The shortage of skilled workers in public transport is a central topic throughout the country. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) emphasizes that every second transport company has restricted driving for personnel reasons in recent years. These challenges, reinforced by political savings in the past, could endanger the achievement of the climate goals by 2030. The industry has to win up to 8,000 drivers annually in order to meet the growing need for bus and rail offers.

In 2022, 82 percent of transport companies hired more staff than in the previous year, but the occupation of travel service positions remains the greatest challenge. 77 percent report a deterioration in the qualifications of applicants. The VDV plans to upgrade the job profile of bus drivers and to attract new target groups for the profession, whereby part -time models and a flexibility of the training are considered important measures.

These developments show that the situation in the HR area of ​​Deutsche Bahn and other transport companies is not only a local challenge, but is also part of a more comprehensive problem that could significantly influence future mobility in Germany.