Staff at TICE, the intercommunal transport system in the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, are regularly subjected to aggression from passengers, usually in the area surrounding the city’s train station. The authorities were notified of a rise in harassment last year, yet nothing has happened. Bus drivers are now threatening to strike unless action is taken to address the issue. On Friday morning, a demonstration took place at the train station to raise awareness of the issue.
Bus drivers have delivered a set of demands, including better lighting, increased security personnel presence, and CCTV around the Esch-sur-Alzette station, where the majority of aggressive encounters have taken place. The number of physical and verbal attacks on drivers doubled in 2022, compared to the previous year.
The situation was brought to wider attention in January 2022 after a driver sustained injuries following such an attack. Last week, staff members at TICE were involved in a fight which broke out among a group of teenagers.
However, politicians and the CFL network appear to be ‘passing the buck’ in terms of responsibility. New mayor Christian Weis (CSV) explained that the land belongs to the CFL and therefore the train operator has a responsibility to secure the perimeter. The installation of CCTV is also dependent on receiving authorisation from the Ministry of Police.
TICE has already installed cameras and glass panels on buses, and offers self-defence classes to bus drivers. However, if the authorities delay any further, and fail to address the situation with concrete measures, the drivers will have no other option but to go on strike.
