PF 2023

Dear business partners, dear colleagues and friends

The year 2022 is nearing its end, and in a few days, we will say goodbye to it definitively. Honestly, I will be quite happy to do that, and I think that most of you will also be glad to shut the imaginary door behind the old year.

It was indeed a very difficult year. While the impacts of the pandemic measures were still reverberating during the first weeks, the next weeks indicated that better times were dawning for the transport of goods: a time without restrictions, and there were also intense discussions about greater support for the railways from the state. Unfortunately, the conflict in Ukraine reversed these assumptions and brought about unforeseen changes in traffic flows and in the flows of goods, a huge increase in energy prices, uncertainty, and the need for operative solutions.

Despite all the circumstances, we managed to implement many of the planned projects. Let me mention, for example, the streamlining of transshipment operations in Čierna nad Tisou, a new wheelset lathe, the retrofitting of locomotives of 742 series, or preparations for the procurement of new high-sided wagons for innovative unloading technology. Advancement was also made in strengthening the capacities of the locomotives fleet, while due to the change of the traction power supply system, we plan to further develop the fleet of electric traction Vectron locomotives. This is only a small part of the ongoing and planned projects.

Although the end of the year brings evaluations, taking stock of what has been done and summarising the whole year, I will not talk about numbers here. I will just say briefly that we managed this year successfully. Many thanks to all our employees for this.

Now comes the time that gives us the opportunity to relax at least for a while: during Christmas the work pace slows down, we devote more time to our loved ones, families, and friends. I sincerely wish you all to experience the Christmas holidays full of joy, well-being, and relaxation. Let’s hope that 2023 will be a year of personal and professional success and good health for all of us, so that we are successful together also during the next 365 days.

Roman GONO
Chairman of the Board of Directors
and CEO of ZSSK CARGO