Sustainable Railway System – An Imperative for the Future

»Throughout the history, companies have been under constant pressure of change, i.e. adjusting to new market requirements and meeting customers' needs. As old as civilisation itself is classification of companies into those successfully making changes, those effectively responding to changes and those wondering what has happened to them. Change management is a scientific discipline dealing in issues related to change, adjustment and influence …«.

Text adapted from diploma thesis: Reorganisation of Slovenian Railways by
S. Sakelšek, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor

Dear Sir/Madam,

Railway undertakings are no exception under the above described system. From their very beginnings, railway undertakings have always been subject to more or less successful changes (i.e. reorganisations). However, thanks to their exceptional importance and impact on the development of the society they have always known how to adapt and turn into organisations pursuing their societal mission in a successful and efficient way.

Slovenia’s accession to the union of the developed European countries constitutes one of Slovenia’s key developmental targets. The ideas of setting up a common European transport market have resulted in major changes in the railway sector structure. The primary aim of this reorganisation was to ensure a non-discriminatory use of public railway infrastructure of a Member State by any railway undertaking. In view of the current railway system organisation another extremely important requirement is to ensure efficiency of national railway undertakings in both freight and passenger transport area.

Transformation of rail transport system has remained a big challenge. In addition to technical and technological issues other aspects, such as economic, legal, social, environmental etc. need to be dealt with, as they have an equally important impact on a specific solution. However, in its evolution such a solution may be subject to change under the influence of external factors. A comprehensive, systematic, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach is required to the analysis of the Slovenian rail sector to arrive at solutions providing the best results both scientifically and professionally. Here, of course, we should not ignore the experience allowing us to reach such solutions more easily and quickly (cost effectively). Within this context, questions are being raised that have previously been neglected due to differences in interests. We believe it is high time we found proper professional and scientific answers to all the questions concerning the reorganisation of the railways.

The fourth international congress of railway infrastructure managers can help us seek the most effective ways of reorganising the railway system by gathering at one place all its key players. Under the auspices of the Slovenian Minister of Transport, Dr. Patrick Vlačič and Slovenian Railways, the national rail infrastructure operator, the congress will provide a place for exchanging knowledge and experience among renowned local and foreign professionals and a great socialising occasion.

We look forward to your participation!

Tomislav Josip Mlinarić, Ph. D.,		Drago Sever, Ph. D.,
assistant professor		assistant professor
Chairman of Scientific and Expert Committee		Chairman of the Congress