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After opening addresses, Deputy Minister Branković held a presentation on the revitalization of the passenger rail transport, underlying a significant role of the railways in our country in the previous period.

“70 or so years ago, the rail network in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 60% bigger than is today. However, our country's progress has brought about setbacks in rail transport, the passenger rail transport in particular “, Deputy Branković said.

Deputy Minister Branković underlined that by adopting our legislation to the transport acquis the preconditions for the implementation of principles for improving rail passenger transport at the border crossings with the neighbouring countries could be created, in particular in the context of facilitating border crossings for passengers and cargo, and all within the context of the 264 Resolution.

Deputy Minister Branković also emphasized that a special consideration should be given to the coronavirus impact on the passenger rail transport. Although the situation today is extremely difficult for all transport modes, passenger rail transport has a competitive advantage over air transport as it allows for a social distancing between people.

“Therefore, we should make combined further efforts and utilise the benefits currently offered by the railways. Clear and implementable protocols which will define how to behave in case of passengers suspected of being infected need to be put in place. A possible way to overcome these issues would be to establish a regional alliance between rail operators engaged in transport of passengers in the Western Balkans. That way it would be easier to strive to shorten and facilitate procedures at the border crossings, with the aim of creating a quality, safe, eco-friendly and more attractive passenger rail transport service“, Deputy Branković said in his address.

The main goal of this workshop was to discuss the ways of facilitating international movement of passengers by rail, particularly focusing on ways of enabling the sector to grow after the coronavirus pandemic.