German rail operator not amused by rogue far-right AfD train message

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was promoted on electronic displays on the outside of a German high-speed train over the weekend, prompting rail operator Deutsche Bahn to launch an internal investigation.

The train was sitting at the main station in the western city of Cologne on Saturday when passengers noticed that the displays on the outside of the carriages, which normally provide route information, instead conveyed a message of support for the 12-year-old anti-immigration and anti-EU party.

“Only the AfD. No old parties” was written on the display, as seen in a photo broadcast by regional public broadcaster WDR.

A Deutsche Bahn spokesman said the misuse of the external display was immediately noticed by station staff in Cologne and reported to the responsible dispatchers for high-speed operations, adding that the text was quickly deleted.

The railway spokesman further stated that the misuse of service displays is not tolerated and that the matter is being investigated inside the company.

Deutsche Bahn is wholly owned by the German state and is obliged to maintain political neutrality.