As many as 92 passenger trains in Slovakia, about 40 to 50 percent of all passenger trains, joined the one-hour strike of train drivers throughout the country between 14:50 and 15:50 on Friday, May 27, the railways’ spokesperson, Martina Pavlíková, told the TASR newswire. She also said that the one-hour strike affected only four long-distance passenger trains, which is fewer than originally expected.
"Also 30 cargo trains joined the strike, with none of them blocking the traffic on rails," said Pavlíková, adding that no unforeseen circumstances occurred during the warning strike. The spokeswoman said the worst situation was on the track from Bratislava through Dunajská Streda to Komárno where all trains joined the strike.
The goal of the warning strike was to express the dissatisfaction of the Federation of Slovakia's Train Drivers (FSSR) with the way the revitalisation of the railway companies is being addressed, said FSSR spokesman Peter Dubovský.
The reasons why the engine drivers declared a strike are irrelevant, according to Director General Pavol Kravec of the passenger railway company Železničná Spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK).
"The reasons they published are not relevant at all. And those reasons they gave the Transport Minister – all their demands are being fulfilled," Kravec told the SITA newswire.
Source: TASR, SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
