Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK) (Slovak Railway Company) is responding to repeated incidents, aggressive behavior, and damage to trains. From October 1, 2026, the company will increase the number of private security service (SBS) (Súkromná bezpečnostná služba - private security service) staff directly on regional trains to nine. This way, ZSSK aims to protect passengers and staff and prevent unnecessary delays.
Where the patrols will work
The new security measures apply to routes where the carrier has long recorded the most problems. SBS patrols, which started working in smaller numbers on September 21, now monitor five selected routes:
Prešov – Lipany
Košice – Moldava nad Bodvou
Poprad-Tatry – Kežmarok
Zvolen – Levice
Bratislava – Malacky
According to ZSSK spokesperson Jan Baček, SBS complements existing security measures, including video surveillance systems in carriages, conductors' body cameras, closer cooperation with the Police Corps of the Slovak Republic, and increased monitoring at high-risk stations.
What train staff usually face
Frontline workers face not only fare evasion but also open aggression. Conductor Silvia Kapekova described the situation on eastern Slovakia routes, where groups of passengers ignore instructions, swear vulgarly at staff, and deliberately remotely unlock doors on entire Panter trains. Such interference causes not only psychological pressure on staff but also significant train delays.
Conductor Silvia Marčínová has similar experience; during ticket checks, she faced verbal and physical attacks and noticed cases where strangers searched the belongings of sleeping passengers.
Thousands in damages and police intervention
Vandalism on trains causes huge financial losses. Depot chief in Poprad Marian Surmik said that replacing one stone-broken window costs about 5,000 – 9,000 euros, and the damaged train must be taken out of service for two to three days. In the first half of 2026 alone, ZSSK recorded hundreds of vandalism cases, with total damages quickly exceeding hundreds of thousands of euros.
Police have already intervened on the Prešov – Lipany route. Director of the railway police department of the Regional Police Corps in Prešov Martin Bednar confirmed that patrols on trains and at the Lipany station have been strengthened, and the station is even monitored by drone. All offenses are investigated by the police to bring offenders to strict legal responsibility.
Details about the measures taken were published by Správy STVR. ZSSK also reminds that in case of immediate threat, passengers should immediately contact the police at 158 or inform train staff.
