The District Police Headquarters in Świdnica has launched an investigation into an incident that took place on October 3, at around 1 p.m., on a train running from Świdnica Miasto to Wrocław Główny. In front of passengers, a man sought by officers hit a female conductor from Koleje Dolnośląskie.

Railway operator:

Just before Marcinowice Świdnickie station, the female conductor asked a passenger who was under the influence of alcohol to show his ticket. The man said that he did not have one. When he was informed that he had to buy one and would be charged an additional fee, he became aggressive. He refused to buy a ticket and to leave the train at Marcinowice Świdnickie.

And adds:

When the train arrived at the station, the female conductor once again ordered the passenger to leave the train. The man began insulting the Koleje Dolnośląskie employee and then attacked her—the assailant struck the conductor in the stomach and face. Another female conductor and passengers came to the injured woman’s aid. They pulled the drunk attacker onto the platform. The train continued toward Wrocław without him on board.

The police are investigating the case. – We received a report of a crime from the injured employee of Koleje Dolnośląskie. The investigation is ongoing. We secured surveillance footage that recorded the entire incident – says junior aspirant Michał Rzepecki from the press office of the District Police Headquarters in Świdnica. – The investigation concerns an alleged violation of the bodily integrity of a public official and defamation.

As Koleje Dolnośląskie points out, this is not the only act of violence against its employees recently: – A day before the incident in Marcinowice Świdnickie, a conductor on a train running from Wrocław Główny to Zgorzelec was attacked with tear gas at Środa Śląska station. The reason for the aggression was similar—the man did not have a valid ticket.

The railway operator emphasizes:

Railway workers are public officials!

In June 2023, the Railway Transport Act and the Act on Public Collective Transport were amended. Under the changes, protection was extended to members of conductor teams, train managers, traffic dispatchers, signal box operators, pointsmen, shunters, yard operators, rolling-stock inspectors, automation technicians, track foremen, crossing keepers and order-maintenance employees.

Bartłomiej Rodak, press spokesperson for Koleje Dolnośląskie:

Thanks to last year’s changes in the law, train crew members are covered by the protection provided to public officials. This means that any violation of the bodily integrity or personal dignity of our employees while they are performing their official duties is prosecuted ex officio by the public prosecutor’s office.

The attacker from Marcinkowice Świdnickie faces up to 12 years in prison for assaulting a Koleje Dolnośląskie employee.

The full video is available on the KD website.