(source: Sme)
“At this time we are in the final stage of the evaluation of current IC train services,” Transport Minister Ján Počiatek said, as quoted by TASR. “We will probably withdraw from this position and create an even bigger space for RegioJet to run this service.”
Radim Jančura, CEO of RegioJet, announced on November 23 that the company is planning to withdraw services on the route because Počiatek has not done anything about below-cost fares on the loss-making IC trains via which he is deliberately trying to eject RegioJet from the market.
RegioJet has been running trains on the line since last December. The private carrier is convinced that the state-run ZSSK has been given a dominant position on the line when it comes to fast trains and ICs. RegioJet argues that ZSSK lowered its IC fares with the arrival of RegioJet to below the level of RegioJet’s announced fares and under the level of its running costs. According to Jančura, ZSSK has broken the law. Around a year ago he appealed to the Slovak Anti-monopoly Office, which has not yet made a decision on the matter.
“This year, we’re going to lose around €4 million on this line,” calculated Jančura.
