Violence in Public Transport Rises, Severity of Incidents Decreases in 2023

Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility and Public Works has reported that the public transport safety steering committee met for the first time under the chairmanship of the Minister for Mobility and Public Works, Yuriko Backes, on Thursday 25 July 2024.

The ministry noted that all stakeholders in the field were present, including public transport network operators, trade unions and the Grand Ducal Police.

Statistics from the 2023 review, based on the CIS security incident reports, revealed an increase in assaults, acts of intentional violence and acts of vandalism against staff, public transport users and equipment compared to previous years. The ministry added that this increase should also take into account the increasing number of people transported since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whilst the number of assaults increased in 2023 compared to the two previous years, the severity of these incidents has decreased, which is "partly encouraging", according to the ministry.

In order to improve safety in public transport, the digitalisation of the CIS tool, allowing the simplification of reporting an incident that compromises the safety of drivers and passengers, was implemented more than a year ago at the CFL. The implementation of this simplified tool has also contributed to the "efficient and easy" reporting of the above-mentioned incidents by the agents in charge of security.

The ministry confirmed that this tool will soon be extended to the RGTR, AVL, TICE and Luxtram operators. This is expected to help establish detailed national statistics in real time and to accurately detect sensitive areas (stations, stops or lines), thus making it possible to take specific measures in collaboration with the Grand Ducal Police.

Of the 1,262 buses in the RGTR fleet as of July 2024, 542 are equipped with a safety cabin or wall (i.e. 43%). The ministry compared this to the situation in January 2023, when only 236 buses out of 1,045 were equipped with them. "This clear progression will continue in the years to come," said the ministry.

Buses with safety cabins now serve 183 RGTR lines throughout the Grand Duchy, spread over nine main axes.

Minister Backes stressed the importance of continuing prevention work by integrating all available technical and human resources: "It is essential to maintain these efforts to ensure optimal safety in public transport. The safety of users and staff remains an absolute priority."