The German inter-city rail system Deutsche Bahn is installing video cameras and other security equipment in four main stations in the major German cities of Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Essen, and Cologne.
The cameras, security centers, and help points are the first phase of a determined effort to fight vandalism and graffiti. The security centers link to the surveillance cameras and the help point connections to the centers, which can be triggered by people on the platform to direct mobile staff to trouble spots.
The cost of installing the equipment at the first four stations is estimated at DM 20 million ($12 million), and DB plans to do the same at all of its main stations at a cost estimated in the range of DM 250 million ($147 million). Ways of funding this extra expenditure are currently being investigated.
The privatized system is now spending DM 70 million ($41 million) simply to clean graffiti from its trains and station properties.
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