Slovakia's Outdated Rail Safety Under Scrutiny After Train Collision Injures Dozens

Collision Highlights Safety Deficiencies

A head-on collision between two express trains in eastern Slovakia on Monday, October 13, 2025, has brought the nation's rail safety infrastructure under sharp criticism. The incident, which occurred near the village of Jablonov nad Turnou, approximately 55 kilometers west of Košice, involved services R 913 and R 914 'Gemeran'. Around 80 to 100 passengers were on board the trains, resulting in at least 62 people injured, with seven in critical condition. No fatalities have been reported.

Preliminary investigations suggest the crash was likely caused by human error, with Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok indicating that one of the train drivers may have failed to yield. Emergency services, including helicopters, fire, and ambulance units, rapidly responded to the scene, and hospitals in Košice and Rožňava activated trauma plans. Prime Minister Robert Fico has called for a thorough investigation into the tragedy.

Outdated Signaling Systems Blamed

The collision has reignited long-standing concerns about the slow pace of modernization within Slovakia's railway network. Experts and industry associations point to the alarming statistic that only 7% of the country's extensive 3,600-kilometer rail network is protected by the modern European Train Control System (ETCS). The site of the recent accident near Jablonov nad Turnou, like 93% of Slovakia's tracks, relies on outdated signaling and human vigilance, making it susceptible to incidents when human factors fail.

Andrej Lasz, General Secretary of the Association of Industrial Unions and Transport (APZD), emphasized the preventative capabilities of modern technology, stating, 'If the human factor fails and the train driver passes a stop signal, nothing can prevent a collision, only modern safety systems.' Slovakia currently has only two ETCS-equipped sections: Bratislava–Žilina and Žilina–Čadca, covering a mere 250 kilometers.

Calls for Urgent Modernization and Investment

The APZD, alongside the Association of Railway Carriers of Slovakia (AROS), has been vocal in its criticism of the chronic underinvestment and lack of modernization in Slovakia's rail infrastructure. They highlight that only 11% of tracks are dispatcher-controlled, leaving most operations dependent on manual processes prone to error.

The cost for implementing ETCS on the main Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) in Slovakia is estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.4 billion euros. In response to these systemic failures, the APZD and AROS have drafted a new law on national transport infrastructure. This proposed legislation aims to secure stable funding, establish a binding list of investment priorities, and introduce penalties for non-compliance, seeking to prevent future tragedies.

The Role of ETCS in Enhancing Safety

The European Train Control System (ETCS) is designed to enhance railway safety and efficiency across Europe. ETCS Level 2, a key component, provides continuous digital radio communication between the train's onboard equipment and the trackside system. This system delivers dynamic speed and route information directly to the driver and can automatically intervene, for instance, by stopping a train if a driver fails to respond to a signal. Operating with a high safety integrity level (SIL4), ETCS significantly reduces the risk of collisions and derailments, offering a crucial layer of protection beyond human vigilance.