Last update for this page: 03 April 2005.
National railway system: ŽSR was split into two companies on 1 January 2002: railway infrastructure manager Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR), and railway operator Železničná spoločnosť (ZSSK).
Language: Slovak (Slovenský)
Currency: Slovak Koruna
UIC code: 56
Timetable: Cestovný poriadok, published annually. This includes introductory material in English, French and German, and contains details of the ŽSR-owned funicular railways and cableways. Timetable supplements are issued several times per year, usually in late January, late July and late September: these are generally only obtainable at major stations on presentation of the coupon in the timetable book. A somewhat basic, fold-out route diagram shows principal stations. New for 2003/4 are three regional booklets, also entitled Cestovný poriadok. An English language on-line timetable is available at www.zsr.sk/english/p-cestpo.html; downloadable timetables for the whole ŽSR network are available at www.zsr.sk/generate_page.php?page_id=134.
Gauge: The main line network is Standard. The tramway between Trenčianská Teplá and Trenčianske Teplice is 760mm gauge. The Tatranské Elektrické Železnice (Tatras Electric Railways) system is 1000mm gauge.
There are two 1520mm gauge freight-only routes into Ukraine:
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between the East Slovakia Steelworks (VSŽ), south west of Košice, via Trebišov to Uzhgorod (note: the route of this is shown completely wrongly on some maps); |
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between Čierna nad Tisou and Chop. |
Electrification: Main line electrification is 3kV dc except for the south west of the country which is 25kV 50Hz; the changeover point is just south of Púchov. The Trenčianske Teplice tramway is 600V dc. The Tatra system is 1500V dc. The cross-border line from Kittsee ÖBB to Bratislava-Petržalka is electrified at the Austrian standard 15kV 16.7Hz.
Rule of the road: Right.
Other railways:
Bratislavská regionálna koľajová spoločňosť (BRKS) operates passenger trains on lines 113 Zohor – Záhorská Ves and 112 Zohor – Rohožník.
There are several freight operators: BRKS Bratislava, U. S. Steel Košice, Slovenská železničná dopravná spoločňosť, LTE Slovakia.
Tourist lines:
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Čiernohronská Železnica Čierny Balog is a 760mm gauge former forestry railway. It operates over 12km of track from Hronec zlieváreň, some 2km from Chvatimech ŽSR station, between May and September. The Čiernohronská Železnica website is in Slovak and has further information and photographs. The standard gauge connecting line between Chvatimech and Hronec has one return journey (see SK05/3) between Banská Bystrica and Hronec zlieváreň advertised for 1 May each year. 760mm track between Hronec and Chvatimech is under reconstruction, and when complete all tourist trains from Čierny Balog should continue to Chvatimech ŽSR station. There are plans to operate regular services between Čierny Balog and Chvatimech ŽSR: these are already in the 2003 timetable, but track is not yet open. |
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The Kysuce-Orava Museum railway is a 7km 760mm gauge line about 20km east of Čadca. Further information is also available at the railway's "romantic" enthusiasts club website. |
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At Čermel, north-west of Košice, there is the 4.2km long 1000mm gauge Čermel Valley Pioneer Railway. |
Metro: None.
Trams: Bratislava, Trenčianská Teplá (ŽS operated), Košice.
Trolleybuses: Banská Bystrica, Bratislava, Košice, Prešov, Žilina.
Due to severe financial difficulties the following lines closed as from 2 February 2003 inclusive (timetable numbers shown):
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112 Zohor - Plavecký Mikuláš |
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117 Jablonica - Brezová pod Bradlom |
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124 Nemšová - Lednické Rovne |
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136 Komárno - Kolárovo |
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141 Kozárovce - Zlaté Moravce - Lužianky |
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142 Zbehy - Radošina |
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144 Prievidza - Nitrianske Pravno |
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153 Zvolen - Šahy |
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161 Lučenec - Kalonda |
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163 Breznička - Katarínska Huta |
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166 Plešivec - Slavošovce |
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167 Rožňava - Dobšiná |
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168 Moldava nad Bodvou - Medzev |
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186 Spišská Nová Ves - Levoča |
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192 Trebišov - Vranov nad Topľou |
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175 Poltár - Rimavská Sobota [already replaced by buses] |
The following lines closed as from 2 February 2003 but re-opened on 15 June 2003 through regional support (timetables available at www.slovakrail.sk):
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134 Šaľa - Neded |
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143 Trenčín - Chynorany |
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151 Zlaté Moravce - Úľany nad Žitavou |
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152 Levice - Čata - Štúrovo |
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153 Šahy - Cata |
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154 Hronská Dúbrava - Banská Štiavnica |
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165 Plešivec - Muráň |
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195 Bánovce nad Ondavou - Veľké Kapušany |
The following lines were threatened for closure as from 2 February 2003 but survived through regional support (perhaps closing for only a few days):
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113 Zohor - Záhorská Ves - operated from 7 July 2003 by Bratislavska Regionalna Kolajova Spoločnosť (Bratislava Regional Rail Company) |
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126 Žilina - Rajec |
The complete Tatra mountain system has also been threatened.
On the line between Rimavská Sobota and Poltár (table 175), trains have been replaced by buses as from some time in 2001. The track was in very poor condition.
The short branch from Komárno to Komárno zastávka closed sometime in 2001.
The cross-border route from Parndorf via Kittsee to Bratislava-Petržalka opened in May 1999 and now carries the principal Wien - Bratislava services in preference to the Marchegg route.
Special notes:
A route diagram of Bratislava with historical notes is available.
The Slovak timetable retains the useful train routing markings in the centre of the train timings column: a straight line indicates that the train runs through the listed stations, whereas a wavy line shows that the train runs via a different route.
Seat reservations are compulsory on IC trains, and casual travellers (even those with Euro Domino tickets) may be asked to pay a seat reservation charge.
The electric railway between Štrba and Štrbské Pleso is rack worked. The steeply graded line between Pohronská Polhora and Tisovec-Bánovo is rack fitted but not worked as such.
Maps: Slovakian railways are shown Quail Map Company's "Czech Republic and Slovakia Railway Map". This also includes details of tram routes and some historical information.
Last complete update 22 August 1999; minor update (18/19 September 1999); "timetable maps" added (11 January 2000); electrification details and "changes" amended (16 January 2000); minor update (1 April 2000); link to Bratislava route diagram added (5 May 2000); general update (30 July 2000, 18 February 2001, 4 July 2002); Recent and future changes: threatened closure list added (29 November 2002), date changed (10 December 2002) and further amended, also general update (14 January 2003); threatened closure list amended (26 January 2003); minor updates (28 January 2003); closure details amended (26 February 2003); general update (31 March 2003); mid June re-opening proposals added (1 June 2003); June 2003 re-openings updated, and tourist line details updated (29 June 2003); general update (13 January 2004, 21 November 2004); link to Obscure Services page updated (4 January 2005); downloadable timetables link added (14 January 2005); timetables link amended (3 April 2005).
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