Changes, problems, and challenges of passenger railway transport in Slovakia

Abstract

The passenger railway transport system in Slovakia, during the last almost thirty years, has undergone many changes and it has faced many problems and new challenges. The change of the socio-economic system, the splitting of Czechoslovakia, the process of accession to the EU and membership of Slovakia have influenced transport system in Slovakia. The main aim of this article is to identify main changes, problems and challenges of passenger railway transport in Slovakia after 1989. Attention is paid to the changing position of railway transport in the transport of persons in Slovakia. Article is also focused on the changes of organisation of railway transport in Slovakia and its deregulation, liberalisation, and starting of competition in passenger railway transport with the example of comparison of the operation of the state and the private carriers. The specific governmental measure, a zero-fare public railway transport services for selected groups of passengers, has significantly influenced a passenger railway transport in Slovakia since 2014.