A meeting was held at ŽPCG with representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Railway Administration, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), consulting firm KPMG, and ŽPCG.
The topic of the meeting was the presentation of the proposal for a future long-term Contract on the Obligation to Provide Passenger Transport Services of Public Interest, aimed at improving the quality and sustainability of railway transport in Montenegro, developed by KPMG consultants through an EBRD project funded by the EU.
The proposed model, in addition to a long-term approach, introduces clear and measurable service quality standards, which will relate to the punctuality and reliability of trains, frequency of services, cleanliness, comfort, accessibility, passenger information, and safety. Furthermore, special emphasis was placed on transparency and the efficient use of public funds, through a modern methodology for calculating compensation for the provision of services of public interest.
The Executive Director of ŽPCG, Dragana Lukšić, highlighted the importance of developing a new OJP contract, aimed at enhancing service quality and the sustainability of public transport. She expressed gratitude to all participants for their cooperation thus far, especially to the representatives of the ministry and EBRD for their support of the project, and emphasized that the joint efforts of all partners represent an important step towards modernising services and improving the passenger experience.
The meeting proceeded in a constructive spirit, with agreement that through continued cooperation, a long-term sustainable and modern public railway transport system would be ensured, in accordance with European standards.