It’s the safest comeback of the year: the BVG hires 66 supervisors for Berlin underground stations. The first new teams will start in the summer on the U 8 between Gesundbrunnen and Hermannstraße.
Many passengers mourn the former train handlers who were abolished step by step after reunification in 1998. Your “stay back, please” was not only the signal for the departure of a subway, but also a piece of BVG authority on site.
With advances in technology came self-handling by drivers using mirrors and cameras. The BVG boss at the time, Sigrid Nikutta (52), defended the reduction with the loss of operational tasks. Instead, emergency telephones were set up (now 577). In addition, 250 security forces are now on duty every day – our own and those of service providers.
“More staff at underground stations is a frequent customer request, which we are now happy to meet with the station supervisors,” says BVG spokesman Markus Falkner.
In the blue service outfit, the new guards should ensure order, cleanliness, safety, but also customer service and passenger information. 140 applications have already been received for the first two calls for applications. The first three-month course, which ends with an exam, is currently running. The gross salary is around 2450 euros (plus surcharges).
“We need people who are motivated to enforce the house rules of the BVG,” says Jens Wieseke (57) from the passenger association. “Employees who are the contact persons for the passengers and who quickly notify the police in dangerous situations.”
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With 175 underground stations, the passenger association is hoping for as many stationary workers as possible. The 66 new supervisions mean a 50 percent increase of the previous 136 railway supervisions. They will be on duty 365 days a year and 24 hours a day in a three-shift system.
On average, one supervisor is responsible for six main train stations. Since it is in radio contact with the BVG control center, current focal points can be quickly addressed.