'Dangerous route': bus drivers in Luxembourg under attack, unions demand protection
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Another attack on a bus driver took place on the notorious line between Luxembourg and France's Villerupt. This route has been plagued for several years by outbursts of violence and insults against employees of carriers. The latest incident has once again sharpened the debate on safety in public transport.
OGBL, the trade union representing the interests of workers, has long been pushing for the mandatory installation of protective cabs for bus drivers. As the union emphasises, only such measures can effectively reduce the risk of direct aggression by passengers.
After lengthy negotiations between trade unions, employers and the government, the Luxembourg Ministry of Mobility has agreed to fund the installation of safety cabs within the RGTR bus network. However, as it was revealed at the last meeting on safety in transport in 2024, only 43% of the RGTR bus fleet is equipped with such cabs.
Worse, OGBL officials said, many of the cabs already in place are inadequate for protection, and are not capable of keeping drivers physically safe in the event of an attack.
Due to recent events, OGBL is making specific demands:
- Accelerate the installation of safety cabs on the remaining 57% of the RGTR bus network;
- Introduce clear technical standards for such cabins;
- Develop a system of psychological and legal support for injured drivers;
- Strengthen cross-border co-operation in the prevention and investigation of violence in public transport.
It is emphasised that without an integrated approach and coordination between the countries, the problem will not go away: the Luxembourg-Villerupt line runs across the state border and is, in fact, outside the jurisdiction of both parties.
