Graffiti Vandalism Costs Deutsche Bahn €12 Million Annually as Incidents Rise

Berlin leads in graffiti cases, with over 16,600 nationwide incidents reported in 2024, marking a significant increase from previous years.

Berlin reported the highest number of graffiti incidents on Deutsche Bahn property in 2024, with 1,866 cases, followed by Munich with 843 and Frankfurt with 233.
Nationwide graffiti cases increased to 16,601 in 2024, up from 15,845 in 2023 and 15,496 in 2022, as reported by the Bundespolizei.
The financial toll of graffiti on Deutsche Bahn remains steady at €12 million annually, with train repainting costing up to €30,000 and taking seven days per vehicle.
Deutsche Bahn security apprehended over 3,200 offenders in 2024, a quarter of whom were graffiti sprayers, often facing minimal penalties under youth laws.
Graffiti removal is labor-intensive, requiring specialized workers to remove paint layer by layer with chemicals, impacting train availability and operational costs.