Deutsche Bahn is testing the security concept: the new app should get help quickly - Faeser emphasizes the importance

Created: 07/21/2022, 18:03

Richard Lutz (lr), CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG, Volker Wissing (FDP), Minister of Transport, and Nancy Faeser (SPD), Minister of the Interior, present the security station research project at a press event in Berlin-Südkreuz station.

© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

In Berlin, Deutsche Bahn is testing new security concepts.

This includes an app with which help can be summoned quickly at the touch of a button.

Berlin – A new call for help app, artificial intelligence that is supposed to recognize dangerous situations and light strips on the platform: Deutsche Bahn is testing how security at stations can be increased.

Together with the federal government, she presented several new pilot projects on Thursday at the Südkreuz in Berlin.

The federal government and the railways are testing new safety concepts: Minister of Transport Wissing praises the "plus in safety"

LED lights on one of the platform edges of the long-distance train station have been showing for some time that a train is arriving.

With different colors, the lights will also make it clear in future where the train is stopping and which parts of the train are less or more heavily used.

With the illuminated platform edge, the aim is "to achieve better control of passenger flows in addition to increased safety, in order to be able to better use the available capacities," said Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP).

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and Bahn boss Richard Lutz were also there.

Faser emphasized: “Security is a question of social justice.

Security must be guaranteed for everyone.” According to the Minister of the Interior, they must be able to feel safe at all times, especially in places where a particularly large number of people are out and about.

"Whether with the new SafeNow call for help app, automated analysis of dangerous situations or signal lights on platform edges: what we are successfully developing and testing at Berlin Südkreuz station helps people to move around safely in everyday life."

New call for help app SafeNow is intended to increase security at train stations

The new call for help app SafeNow from a Munich start-up has also been available since Thursday.

Anyone who feels unsafe in certain situations at the station or is in serious danger can inform the security staff on site.

The security forces can then use the app to immediately see the location of the person in need of help and intervene quickly if necessary.

The app can also be used away from train stations, with friends and family.

In this case, it is not the security forces who receive the location, but private contacts, who can then either rush to help themselves or alert the police.

The federal government and the railways are constantly testing security technologies and measures at Berlin Südkreuz station.

A pilot project in which cameras with face recognition functions were used was particularly controversial.

(dpa)