Enlarge image
Empty trains during the pandemic
Photo: Ralph Peters / imago images
The risk of infection on long-distance trains is apparently no greater than with other activities.
This was the result of a long-term study by Deutsche Bahn and the Charité Research Organization (CRO).
According to the results of the study, railway employees with intensive customer contact on the trains are not exposed to a significantly higher risk of contracting the coronavirus than employees without customer contact.
The aim of the study was to gain scientifically sound knowledge about the infection process among on-board personnel, it says. For the third time, the infection values of groups of employees with a lot of customer contact (on-board service personnel) were compared with the data of employees who have little contact with other people (train drivers and maintenance staff). These were in turn compared with the general infection dynamics in Germany. The study comes to the conclusion "that the infection rate of DB Fernverkehr AG does not deviate from the general nationwide infection dynamics".
A total of 1037 railway employees were examined between February 24 and March 2, 2021. There had already been two previous series of tests in June and July 2020 and in October of last year at the Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich locations.
While the train drivers who almost always work alone have the lowest values, for the maintenance technicians these are somewhat higher than those of train attendants.
"This suggests that the hygiene measures to protect groups of people with frequent customer contact have so far been sufficient and effective," the study says.
Although the study only examined railway employees, it could also be meaningful for railway travelers.
The railway had always argued that the supply of fresh air and the obligation to wear protective masks in particular minimized the risk for passengers.
Currently only low utilization
In the corona crisis, Deutsche Bahn suffered a massive slump in passenger numbers and is hoping for an increase in travelers in the summer.
In view of the low utilization of long-distance trains in the study periods, however, the study emphasizes that no statement can be made on the "obvious assumption" that full trains could lead to an increased infection rate among train attendants.
Nevertheless, the board of directors for passenger transport at Deutsche Bahn, Berthold Huber, emphasized how safe rail travel is despite Corona:
"Traveling by train is safe, as the experience and scientific findings from over a year of pandemic show," he said, according to a press release.
»Our long-term study with the Charité is a positive and encouraging signal, not only for our train staff, but also for all rail customers in Germany.
The high supply of fresh air in the trains coupled with the hygiene and protective measures such as masks have proven their worth. "
The study results are supported by the fact that no known corona outbreaks can be traced back to travel in local or long-distance public transport.
kry / Reuters
