Slovak Transport Minister Josef Raj, a representative of the “Voice – Social Democracy“ party dismissed the management of the Slovak Railway Passenger Carrier (SZPP), appointing Ivana Pinosová as the interim head of the company, the Ministry of Transport announced today to the Slovak news agency TASR, BTA reported.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Robert Fico called for the removal of the railways' management, in response to the collision between two trains near Pezinok in the Bratislava region on Sunday, which injured dozens of passengers, 79 of whom were hospitalized.
“In accordance with yesterday's government meeting, we dismissed the management of SZPP, effective yesterday, with the new management appointed as of today“, said Raj.
The new CEO of the company and chairwoman of its Board of Directors is Ivana Pinosová. According to Raj, she is a very experienced manager, having previously worked for the state-owned Slovak Post, the freight railway operator “SZPP Cargo“ and the Slovak Road Administration.
The new board members include Rastislav Glasa and Miroslav Klich, both SZPP employees with extensive experience in the railway sector. All newly appointed board members take up their positions on a temporary basis, for a maximum period of six months, during which a selection procedure will be held.
Following the extraordinary government meeting held yesterday, Fico announced that the Ministry of Transport will present a proposal for compensation for the victims of the train collisions that occurred near Pezinok and near Rožnjava in mid-October at the next meeting. The Ministry of Transport has also been tasked with presenting a set of preventive measures to improve safety within three weeks.