Serbia Voz Faces Criticism for Operating Faulty Passenger Cars

Passenger cars operated by Serbia Voz have come under scrutiny after being launched into service without a functioning heating system. This incident has raised concerns regarding safety standards and operational protocols. The Željeznička Prevoza Crne Gore (ŽPCG), responsible for the oversight of passenger car safety, confirmed that they have no authority to withdraw the faulty cars while on Serbian territory.

According to ŽPCG, the responsibility for the technical integrity and basic maintenance of passenger cars lies with their owner, which in this case is Serbia Voz. They emphasized that operational control is dictated by the laws of the country where the trains are currently operating. As such, while the passenger cars are within the borders of the Republic of Serbia, only the relevant Serbian railway authorities, including Serbia Voz and the Infrastructure of Railways of Serbia, can make decisions regarding the cars’ operation.

This situation highlights a broader issue, as ŽPCG has noted that this is not the first time faulty cars have been allowed to operate. They pointed out that Montenegrin authorities have repeatedly raised concerns about such practices, urging strict adherence to safety and technical standards.

In a statement, ŽPCG expressed their dissatisfaction with attempts to shift the blame for these oversight failures onto the Montenegrin side. They criticized the lack of a formal request for the opinion of the relevant authorities before the issue was publicized in the media.

ŽPCG stated, “It is unacceptable to try to transfer responsibility for such oversights to the Montenegrin side, especially considering that in this specific case, an official stance from the relevant authorities was not even sought prior to the publication of information in the media.”

As the train travels towards its destination in Bar, authorities in Montenegro will only be able to take action in accordance with their domestic regulations once the train arrives at the destination. This incident underscores the importance of collaboration and communication between neighboring countries to ensure the safety and efficiency of rail transport.

Both countries must address these concerns to prevent future occurrences and to uphold the safety standards that passengers expect. This situation serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in international rail operations and the shared responsibility of all parties involved.