Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko
 | |
| Company type | Fully state-owned limited company (a.s.) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail passenger transport |
| Founded | 13 December 2004[1] |
| Headquarters | Bratislava, |
Area served | Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Ukraine |
Key people |
|
| Revenue |  €437,556 million (2020)[1] |
| −€10.59 million(2020)[1] | |
| Total assets | 984,870,000 Euro (2017)  |
| Owner | Slovak republic (100%) |
Number of employees | 5,910 (2020)[1] |
| Website | |
Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko, a.s. ( in short ZSSK) (English: The Railway Company of Slovakia) is Slovak state-owned passenger train company based in Bratislava.
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Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko, a. s. (in short ZSSK) is a railway undertaking and joint-stock company with the attribute „Národný dopravca“ (National carrier), operating rail passenger transport in Slovakia. The company is based in Bratislava. The founder and exclusive owner of Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko a.s. is the Slovak Republic. The rights of the state, as the exclusive shareholder, are executed via the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic. ZSSK as a national carrier offers quality services as well as a wide range of commercial transport that satisfies specific customer requirements.
About company
History
The company was established on 13 December 2004 by the Slovak Republic Government Decree No. 662/2004 of 7 July 2004 and based on decision of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of 13 December 2004 at the general assembly of Železničná spoločnosť on its division into ZSSK (passenger transport) and Železničná spoločnosť Cargo Slovakia (freight transport). It was entered into the Commercial Register on 1 January 2005.
Operation
Trains
The company operates passenger transport on a substantial part of the network of Slovak infrastructure manager called Železnice Slovenskej republiky (Railways of the Slovak Republic). ZSSK currently operates Passenger trains (Os), Regional Express trains (REX), Regional fast trains (RR), Fast trains (R), Express trains (Ex), EuroCity trains (EC), InterCity trains (IC) EuroNight trains (EN) and SuperCity (SC) trains. Regional fast trains (RR) and fast trains (R) operate only on domestic services. Os, REX, Ex, EC, IC EN and SC trains operate also on international transport. In addition to tracks with a usual gauge (1 435 mm), the company also operates passenger transport on narrow gauge tracks with a gauge of 1 000 mm: ● Tatra Electric Railways ● Cog Railways between Štrbské Pleso and Štrba
Competition in the market
From 13 December 2020 ZSSK took over the operation of line no. 131 between Bratislava and Komárno, making Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko once again the only carrier performing passenger rail transport on a public service basis. On the Slovak liberalized rail market operate – Arriva, RegioJet and Leo Express, which offer commercial products in passenger rail transport on open access basis.
Rolling stock
Locomotives
ZSSK owns electric and diesel locomotives, motor coaches, motor units and electric units. The best known are 240, 350, 750 and 754 series, the newest are 361, 381, 660/661, 671, 757, 813/913, 840 and 861. Since 2017, the company leases 10 pcs of high quality locomotives – Siemens Vectron (10- year lease).
Coaches
ZSSK is continuously renewing its coaches in recent years. However, older sets still run on some lines.
Long-distance transport
Most coaches used for higher category trains are equipped with air conditioning, 230 V sockets, and gradually also Wi-Fi connection.
Regional transport
Regional transport is operated mostly by modern units and coaches. In addition to them, older units are still being put into operation.
Modernisation
ZSSK modernisation, renewal and purchase of new rolling stocks investments represent since 2014 a volume of more than 550 mil EUR, which is the largest scale of rolling stock renewal in the last 20 years.
ZSSK has seven maintenance and repair management centres, which manage a total of 18 centres for coaches repairment and inspection and repair centres. By 2023, ZSSK aims to build three new modern technical and hygienic maintenance workplaces (THÚ) in Nové Zámky, Zvolen and Humenné for more than 100 mil. EUR.
Digitalization
ZSSK is currently undergoing the process of gradual digitalization. Our customers already have at disposal: ● responsive web zssk.sk which serves to search for connections as well as provides detailed information on the services provided by ZSSK.
To purchase the train tickets and additional travel documents, our customers use several sales-channels: ● E-shop in intuitive user interface, providing the information on train delays, graphic seat allocation choice, simplified option to see the purchased travel documents and option to return the travel documents is available, too ● Mobile app IDeme vlakom – the application provides an overview of the current delay and location of the train, possibility to search several connections, seat selection, journey overview with train information and line plan, summary of the purchased travel documents and search of the train departures / arrivals.
Customer account ZSSK ID
The ZSSK ID account can be registered at any time online in our e-shop or mobile app IDeme vlakom, but also at the ticket-desks, customer centers and even on the train. Among the benefits of this account belong: ● payment with credit – alternative to the contactless payment by purchase of travel documents. For each deposit to the account, the customer gets 5% of the deposited amount in form of bonus. Payment with credit is possible online in our E-shop, in the Mobile app, in the Customer centers and at the ticket-desks, ● archiving of the personal data, ● archiving of the purchased travel documents, ● SUPERGARANCIA – compensation for the train delay above the limits of the valid legislation up to 100% of the original price in case of the tickets purchased via the customer account ZSSK ID, in the E-shop or in the mobile application IDeme vlakom, ● ticket return without sanction fee, ● automatic foundation of the account by registration of the zero-fare transportation account or by purchase of the special-offer cards KLASIK RAILPLUS, JUNIOR RAILPLUS, SENIOR RAILPLUS or MAXI KLASIK.
Other activities
Ecology
Railway transport is the most ecological form of land transport and it only produces 0,4 % from the overall volume of emissions within European Union resulting from the personal transport. Europe should become climate neutral till 2050 and this ambition requires also major changes in the transport. The solution is the railway transport as it is one of the most ecological, sustainable, innovative and safe modes of transport.
Connections to Europe
ZSSK as the national carrier provides in cooperation with foreign carriers and partners network service of mutually served on the domestic and international network. International services are operated with other international railway undertakings. From Slovakia passengers can travel directly to Vienna, Prague, Budapest but also more distant locations such as Berlin, Hamburg, Zürich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Krakow, Warsaw and Kiev. ZSSK is a member of renowned railway organizations connecting railway companies from all over the world. The list of international organizations where ZSSK has its membership: International Union of Railways, (UIC), International Rail Transport Committee (CIT), Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), Forum Train Europe (FTE). Within membership in the mentioned organizations ZSSK cooperates and takes part in the international commercial and technical activities, as well as in creating the European legislation for the railway sector.
References
- ^ a b c d Výročná správa Železničnej spoločnosti Slovensko, a.s., za rok 2019 (PDF) (Report). Rožňavská 1, SK-832 72 Bratislava, Slovak Republic: Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko, a.s. 31 March 2019. pp. 1–44.
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External links
Annoual report of železničná spoločnosť slovensko, a.s. 2019