Deutsche Bahn Train Conductor Buys Toilet Paper from Supermarket, Receives Praise

(Central News Reporter Lin Shangying Berlin 16th Special Dispatch) A Deutsche Bahn ICE high-speed train recently ran out of toilet paper in its restrooms, prompting the train conductor to make an unscheduled stop in Hamburg to purchase three large packs of toilet paper from a nearby supermarket. The video of this incident went viral, sparking a heated discussion online. Netizens praised the conductor as a true hero and paid tribute to frontline train service staff who solve problems.

This incident occurred last weekend. An ICE 2075 high-speed train traveling from the tourist destination of Sylt Island to Berlin ran out of toilet paper. To prevent passengers from being inconvenienced, the train conductor decided to make an unscheduled stop at Hamburg-Bergedorf station and purchase toilet paper from a nearby supermarket.

A video shared on Instagram shows the train conductor running back to the platform with three large packs of toilet paper, loading them onto the train, and then the train departing again.

Deutsche Bahn later confirmed the incident to the German media outlet Tag24. A spokesperson explained that due to a temporary staff shortage that day, the train had not been properly prepared before departure, and thus, including the toilet paper, the on-board supplies had not been replenished in time.

Deutsche Bahn also stated that the train conductor had personally paid for the purchase of the toilet paper, which would be fully reimbursed by the company. In the future, they would also strengthen random checks of train supplies to prevent similar situations from happening again.

After the video was released, it quickly sparked heated discussions. The netizen who filmed the video directly awarded the train conductor the title of 'Employee of the Month,' and many netizens left comments praising him as a 'true hero,' a 'person worthy of respect,' and called on Deutsche Bahn to give him a raise.

Some netizens also took the opportunity to speak out for frontline train service staff, stating that train service staff have no decision-making power over many issues, but always strive to solve problems under limited conditions and are worthy of affirmation.

In recent years, Deutsche Bahn has faced criticism for its aging infrastructure and frequent construction, which has affected its punctuality. In June of this year, a wireless communication system failure caused all trains in Germany to stop temporarily, leaving many passengers stranded.

According to German media reports, the ICE train eventually arrived in Berlin about 45 minutes late, but many netizens said that if it was for the sake of ensuring that all passengers had toilet paper to use, such a delay was completely understandable.

The passenger who filmed the video also spoke out for frontline train service staff. He said, 'The operation of an organization cannot rely solely on manuals and established procedures. More importantly, there are people willing to take responsibility and find practical solutions, rather than hiding behind job divisions.'

This passenger thanked the frontline train service staff and the train conductor, expressing gratitude for their dedication, on-site adaptability, and patience, which allowed passengers to complete their journey smoothly even in unexpected situations. He wrote, 'News headlines often focus on problems, but today, I want to pay my respects to those who solve problems.' (Editor: Yang Shengru) 1150716

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