Training During the COVID Era

At RailTraining, safety is paramount. Hand hygiene and masks are mandatory in practical training. "A workshop is not a seminar room," says Krummradt. "In a workshop, there is a lot of noise. You have to speak louder there. This makes it all the more important to adhere to hygiene rules, even in the pit." As a trainer, he himself is required to wear an FFP2 mask, for example. "Anyone who does not comply with the requirements has no place in such a training session," Krummradt states firmly.

There is clearly a good reason for this caution: RailTraining GmbH is one of the few companies currently conducting such training. Many others have long since ceased training activities. Yet continuing education licenses must be renewed at regular intervals, and well-trained specialists are in short supply everywhere.

Martin Krummradt's son, Philip, is also a trainer for rail vehicle technology and hazardous materials. Philip Krummradt opens the door to a seminar room in an administrative building at Kaminski. The tables are widely spaced throughout the room. Currently, the course "Qualified Brake Maintenance Technician" is being held here. Under normal circumstances, up to 25 seminar participants could be trained in this room. Currently, the number is limited to five or six. Participants come from Bremen, Bentheim, Krefeld, and Regensburg, among other places.

Participants are required to wear masks until they are seated. The room is also regularly ventilated. A plexiglass screen stands next to the podium for the trainers, who have to speak much more than the seminar participants. There are no hot drinks available, and everyone must bring their own food.

"Of course, there is always some risk," says Philip Krummradt. "We cannot guarantee 100 percent protection. But we make an effort... After all, we have families at home we don’t want to endanger either."

People training on a RailTraining GmbH tank wagon

Karsten Elstner – Managing Director of RailTraining:

"Without training, the supply situation in Germany would be at risk."

Mr. Elstner, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to previously unknown disruptions across much of society. This has especially impacted the freight industry, and in particular, the training operations for repair, maintenance, and operations personnel. How do you assess the situation in the industry in light of the pandemic risks?

"Many companies have almost shut themselves off to minimize risks. There are companies that don’t allow anyone onto the factory premises. But training must continue."

Why not simply stop training entirely for, say, a year?

"The industry is systemically important. After all, it's about the supply situation in the Federal Republic of Germany. That means we are fighting on the same front line with nurses, teachers, and police officers, ensuring that traffic remains safe. This can only happen if we continue to train. That’s why we have worked hard to maintain the same level of service as before."

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