Deutsche Bahn hires 2,200 new signalers to ease rail staff shortages
Germany's rail operator has made progress in addressing staff shortages among signal box dispatchers. By the end of 2025, Deutsche Bahn's infrastructure arm, DB InfraGO, had recruited around 2,200 new employees in this role. This hiring push marks a 10% increase compared to the previous year's workforce levels.
The recruitment drive comes after persistent understaffing issues in recent years. By December 2025, DB InfraGO had successfully integrated the new signalers, bringing the total number of dispatchers in Germany to roughly 13,000. This boost in personnel has helped stabilise operations across the network.
From the start of 2026, the company reported maintaining an average 100% staffing level for signal box operators nationwide. While isolated bottlenecks may still arise, the overall availability of trained dispatchers has improved significantly. The Federal Network Agency, which monitors rail performance, has noted these developments and has not issued further threats of fines due to the positive trend. The increase in staffing follows years of delays and cancellations linked to dispatcher shortages. With more operators now in place, the rail network aims to reduce disruptions caused by understaffing in signal boxes.
The hiring of 2,200 additional dispatchers has brought Germany's rail operator closer to full staffing capacity. Since early 2026, the average availability of signal box personnel has reached the target level. This improvement has led to fewer regulatory warnings, though some localised staffing challenges remain.
