We have a professional and moral obligation to assure the public and users of our services that travelling by train, in addition to being affordable and comfortable, is completely safe.
In response to the malicious publication on the Alternative Montenegro website, which questions “Who is crazy enough to travel by train”, we have a professional and moral obligation to assure the public and users of our services that travelling by train, in addition to being affordable and comfortable, is completely safe.
In support of this, we would like to clarify the operational methods of railway companies, with a particular focus on activities related to safety. These days, railway companies are additionally faced with the constant dissemination of malicious information to the public.
ŽPCG is open to all constructive suggestions and freedom of speech aimed at improving the quality of service and safety in railway transport, but the dissemination of inaccurate, unverified, and unreliable information harms all railway companies and most significantly undermines the trust of users of railway transport services.
Primarily, we wish to emphasise that all rolling stock used for passenger transport in both international and local services is operational and safe for traffic. During the execution of service, control and technical inspections (conducted according to the planned schedule) and unscheduled repairs upon leaving the workshop, records of completed inspections and unscheduled repairs are maintained. All these inspections and repairs in the workshop are monitored by the control-acceptance body of the traction unit, which, by signing, accepts the rolling stock as operational. The last in the chain of acceptance of the rolling stock is the driver, who, during the preparation of the train in the depot, checks the correctness and functionality of the devices and components on the train. After completing the train inspection, during which he ensures that everything is correct and functional, in cooperation with the car inspector, he proceeds to perform a complete brake test and certifies that the brakes are operational with his signature in the form TK-21. After the complete brake test is completed, conditions are created for the rolling stock to enter traffic.
The company Maintenance of Rolling Stock also states that the rolling stock for passenger and freight transport is safe for traffic, which can be confirmed by regular and extraordinary inspections, as well as checks of rolling stock according to applicable railway regulations.
As for train delays, they relate to temporarily introduced slow speeds, which according to the latest report from the Operational Affairs Service of ŽICG amount to 46 minutes.
Although we appreciate that the citizens of Montenegro are familiar with the activities of Railway Infrastructure, we still wish to provide a brief profile to help the public better understand the problems we face in our daily operations.
The Joint Stock Company, in majority ownership of the State of Montenegro (72%), is classified among large economic entities, and according to the latest Financial Statements report: real estate, facilities and equipment of the Company as of 31 December 2020 amounts to approximately 605 million euros.
In its capacity as the infrastructure manager, as a public good in general use and owned by the State of Montenegro, Railway Infrastructure constructs, reconstructs, and maintains infrastructure, ensures access, and allocates infrastructure capacities to all interested railway carriers that meet legal requirements, determines fees for the use of infrastructure capacities, prepares and publishes timetables, and organises and regulates railway traffic. The total length of the railway network in Montenegro is 327.72 km (250.51 km of open track and 77.21 km of station tracks in 13 stations and 10 crossings) and is divided into three directions:
Railway Infrastructure also possesses and maintains several electrotechnical systems: energy, control, signalling-safety systems, level crossing systems, telecommand systems, telecommunications transmission systems, IT systems, etc.
It is true that the appointment of new management personnel is the first step taken to ascertain the actual condition of the infrastructure and all its segments. Already in the initial reports, it was evident that certain segments of the track had not been reconstructed for several decades. Our goal is to carry out the reconstruction of the Trebešica – Podgorica - Bar line in the future. ŽICG has introduced speed restrictions in accordance with the observed condition, which allow for safe traffic flow, while simultaneously engaging all its capacities to immediately rectify critical points. It has also informed the Ministry of Capital Investments about the observed condition and the necessary financial resources, equipment, and materials for repairs and reconstruction. Additionally, through international financial institutions and banks, the route Lutovo – Bratonožići – Bioče has been proposed, as well as the preparation of project documentation for the route Golubovci – Bar, and the procurement of railway vehicles for the maintenance of railway infrastructure (track tampers, motor rail vehicles-drezines, vehicles for maintaining the contact network, etc.) as part of a loan from the EBRD.
It is also true that the financial resources allocated from the budget are insufficient even for the payment of employee salaries, let alone for investment maintenance, with the average salary in the Company being below the average in Montenegro and the lowest in the railway sector. However, despite this, we have put all available capacities to ensure the optimal functioning of the railway system, and with the support of the Ministry of Capital Investments, we expect that in the near future, the error in estimating the necessary resources to bring the railway infrastructure to an optimal state of functionality will be corrected.
Montecargo reports that its operations are hindered due to a lack of financial resources for investment repairs on the one hand for locomotives, and on the other hand for modernisation and investments in wagons, such as the installation of metal floors in Eas-type wagons, but it is not as catastrophic as stated in the announcement. However, even in such a difficult situation, Montecargo manages to overcome the current issues related to these investment expenditures and continues its operations in a positive direction, as evidenced by the fact that it has consistently recorded an increase in transport revenues over the past three months.
From all of the above, it can be concluded how complex and interconnected the railway system is, and as such, it requires constant efforts from all four railway companies in improving, modernising, and maintaining all its segments. We hope that the efforts that railway companies continuously invest, with very limited financial resources, will be recognised not only as a benefit for the companies themselves but as a public good and a service of public importance for tourism, the economy, and other sectors of Montenegro's economy. Therefore, we assure you of the safety of railway transport and invite you to continue travelling with us as before, and we will strive to enhance our offerings to meet your expectations.
With us, you are on the right track.