Government launches fourth attempt at transformation of Czech Railways

By: Vladimir Tax.

Last week, the Czech government took the first step towards transforming the country's largest state-owned enterprise - Czech Railways - into an efficient, modern and most of all competitive company. This is the fourth attempt in seven years to liberalise the Czech rail transport sector, Czech Railways being the state's least profitable enterprise. The project includes the transformation of Czech Railways into a joint-stock company, and entrusting the tracks to a separate state-controlled firm so that more than one carrier can operate on the network. Vladimir Tax talked to Michal Tosovsky, former deputy Minister of Transport, and chairman of Czech Railways' board of directors.