The Position of Railway Sidings in the Slovak Republic

Černá, Lenka; Klapita, Vladimír; Buková, Bibiána

doi:10.2478/logi-2025-0015

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted businesses and economies worldwide, including Slovakia, and interrupted supply chains, causing a decline in rail freight volumes, particularly in the second quarter of 2020, though the impact in Slovakia was less severe than in other EU countries [1]. Combined with a recession in the metallurgical sector, the pandemic contributed to historically low rail freight performance [2], forcing many companies to limit or suspend production, which reduced transport demand before partial recovery. This paper analyses the current state of railway sidings in the Slovak Republic, focusing on their role in freight transport, operational trends, and usage [3]. It applies an analytical approach supported by statistical data and computational tools to assess siding capacity, efficiency, and potential environmental benefits of modal shift from road to rail. The study also reviews public funding mechanisms supporting siding development. Results highlight declining interest in siding operations, the influence of industrial production changes, and opportunities for targeted investment. Findings provide a strategic basis for sustainable freight planning and infrastructure development [4].

References

Abramović, B., Majstrovic, M., Mašek, J. & Šipuš, D. (2024). Railway Freight Corridors in the European Union. Transportation Research Procedia 77, (pp. 109 – 1152024) 12th International Scientific Conference on Horizons of Railway Transport, HRT 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2024.01.014.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Čamaj, J., Mašek, J., Dolinayová, A. & Daniš, J. (2016). Possibilities to evaluate railway tracks in conditions of the Slovak Railways. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Traffic and Transport Engineering (ICTTE), Belgrade, Serbia. DOI: 10.31075/PIS.65.01.02.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Zitrický, V., Nedeliaková, E. & Valla, M. (2023). The position of road and rail transport in terms of carbon neutrality. Proceedings of the 15th International Scientific Conference on Sustainable, Modern and Safe Transport 74 (pp. 210–216), TRANSCOM 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2023.11.136.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Alaghband, M. & Moghaddam, B.F. (2022). An optimization model for scheduling freight trains on a single-rail track. Scientia Iranica 29(2), 853-863. DOI: 10.24200/sci.2020.53538.3304.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Šperka, A., Čamaj, J., Dedík, M. & Bulková, Z. (2023). Evaluation methodology of the railway stations using the AHP method in the transport hubs from the freight transport point of view. Infrastructures 8, 177. DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures8120177.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
National Safety and Transport Authority. (2025) List of Issued Licenses for Railway Infrastructure Managers and Railway Under-takings as of May 9, 2025. Bratislava.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Šperka, A., Čamaj, J., Dedík, M. & Bulková, Z. (2023). Evaluation Methodology of the Railway Stations Using the AHP Method in the Transport Hubs from the Freight Transport Point of View. Infrastructures 8(12), 177. DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures8120177.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Dolinayova, A., Ľoch, M. & Camaj, J. (2016). Liberalization of the Railway Freight Market in the Context of a Sustainable Transport System. Transportation Research Procedia 14, 916-925. DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2016.05.071.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
ZSSK Cargo, a.s. (2024) Internal company data. ZSSK Cargo, Internal material.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Flašík, Ľ. (2025). Proposal of Measures for Strengthening Railway Sidings as Part of Support for the Single Wagonload System (in Slovak, Návrh opatrení pre posilnenie železničných vlečiek ako súčasť podpory systému jednotlivých vozňových zásielok). Žilina: University of Žilina. Diploma thesis.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Gašparík, J., Záhumenská, Z. & Pečený, L. (2017). Competitive tendering in the rail passenger transport focusing on the long-distance lines. Transport Means – Proceedings of the International Conference, September 2017, (pp. 351–355). 21st International Scientific Conference Transport Means, Juodkrantė, 20–22 September 2017.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Stopka, O., Stopková, M. & Kampf, R. (2019). Application of the operational research method to determine the optimum transport collection cycle of municipal waste in a predesignated urban area. Sustainability 11(8), 2275. DOI: 10.3390/su11082275.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Workpaper – Industrial sidings. (2024). Interreg Central Europe. Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www.interreg-central.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/D-2.1.2-Workpaper-Industrial-sidings.pdf
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Li, B., Yun, C., Xu, G., Zhou, X. & Xuan, H. (2022). Optimization of simultaneous delivery and pickup wagon scheme on hybrid siding network of railway terminal. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2022, Article ID 6713617. DOI: 10.1155/2022/6713617.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Nachtigall, P., Široký, J., Šourek, D., Ježek, J. & Matuška, J. (2020). Process of Capacity Allocation on Public Sidings. Transportation Research Procedia 47, 309-315. DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2020.02.011.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Čamaj, J., Brumerčíková, E. & Hranický, M.P. (2020). Information system and technology optimization as a tool for ensuring the competitiveness of a railway undertaking—case study. Sustainability 12(21), 8915. DOI: 10.3390/su12218915.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Springer Science and Business Media LLC. (2018). Transport systems and delivery of cargo on East–West routes. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-72150-7.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Bulková, Z., Gašparík, J. & Zitrický, V. (2024). The management of railway operations during the planned interruption of railway infrastructure. Infrastructures 9(7), 119. DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures9070119.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Hlavatý, J. & Ližbetin, J. (2023). The concept of methodology for strategic decision making of managers. Transportation Research Procedia 74, 1127–1134. DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2023.11.252.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Šarić, J., Vidović, A., Štimac, I. & Abramović, B. (2023). Potentials of Franjo Tuđman Airport in the development of intermodal transport. Scientific Journal of Silesian University of Technology. Series Transport 119, 207–218. DOI: 10.20858/sjsutst.2023.119.15.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Grechi, D. & Ceron, M. (2022). COVID-19 lightening the load factor in railway transport: Performance analysis in the North-West area of Milan. Research in Transportation Business & Management 43, 100739. DOI: 10.1016/j.rtbm.2022.100739.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article
Kendra, M., Skrúcaný, T., Dolinayová, A., Čamaj, J., Jurkovič, M., Csonka, B. & Abramović, B. (2023). Environmental burden of different transport modes—Real case study in Slovakia. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 114, 103552. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2023.103552.
Search in Google Scholar Back to article

The Position of Railway Sidings in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

Paradigm

My account