Slovak railway management deployed private security guards and police officers to regional trains on eastern Slovakia following hundreds of vandalism incidents and physical attacks against conductors.
Security Deployment on the Prešov-Lipany Route
Beginning October 1, 2026, private security personnel and police officers boarded regional trains to curb escalating violence. Conductor Sylvia Capeková told reporters that staff members are mentally exhausted from daily confrontations. Her colleague, Sylvia Marcinčinová, confirmed that verbal abuse regularly escalates into physical assaults. Passengers without tickets frequently hide under seats or in restrooms, refusing to disembark when caught.
Conductor Safety and Train Delays
When train crews attempt to bar disruptive travelers from boarding, assailants often pelt the railcars with stones. Marián Surmík, head of the Poprad depot, stated that vandals have hurled stones directly into trains immediately after doors open. Repair costs for damaged railcars range from tens to hundreds of euros. Slovakia’s railway system has issued six fines this year for unauthorized train stops and delays. Disrupting an ordinary passenger train carries a fine of 100 euros, with an additional 20 euros charged for every started three-minute delay. While staff utilize body cameras to identify perpetrators, collecting these fines remains difficult.
Police deployed after attacks and vandalism on regional trains
Why were police deployed to eastern Slovak trains?
Railway management deployed police and private security guards due to hundreds of vandalism incidents, fare evasion, and physical attacks against train conductors, particularly on the Prešov to Lipany route.
Which rail route is experiencing the most severe problems?
The worst affected area is the regional rail line between Prešov and Lipany in the Sabinov district.
What penalties do vandals face for delaying trains?
Offenders face a 100-euro fine for causing an unauthorized train stop, plus an extra 20 euros for every three-minute delay incurred, though collection of these penalties proves problematic.
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