Text 5. Railway Management

Railway management is more than just management. In railway management we should distinguish between the strategic and tactical levels of decision making. In other words, the strategic level refers to the fundamental orientations of the railway undertaking, while the tactical level introduces new technologies, organisational goals and changes in human resources.

As customers ask for new products, services and in time delivery of freight, time management has become one of the main sectors of the railway operation.

Consumer protection makes railways increase safety of passengers and compensate their clients in case of accidents and great delays. As railways must adjust their products and policy to external requirements, risk management is extremely acute today.

Project management for railways is the act of directing and administrating a project. It can be divided into four parts - organisation, development, sorting and execution. Management of infrastructure is another essential part of transport management. The primary task of the rail infrastructure managers is to ensure safe operation of rolling stock and to reduce costs. Infrastructure managers are also responsible for track maintenance and signalling equipment.

In the era of international railway cooperation managers should seek for collaboration with other railways. International management is extremely significant now.

The main task of the railway passenger management is to offer safe transportation of people and high quality of services. That is why railways should implement a new strategy combining competition, cooperation and alliances. Railways offer a new and global product to customers by making a railway trip and ticketing easier. Thus, some railways have established Web-sites with useful information and provide e-ticketing services.

As for the rail freight management, its task is safe transportation of goods without delays and damages, reduction of noise level and introduction of modern freight rolling stock. To achieve these goals it is necessary to integrate rail traffic into logistic chains.

The act of motivating people to work in switching yards and sorting stations is a serious problem nowadays. Railway managers should pay more attention to the working environment of their staff.

Answer the questions:

1. What levels of decision making should be distinguished in railway management?

2. What level refers to the fundamental orientations of the railway undertaking?

3. Why is time management essential for the railway operation?

4. What factors make railways increase safety of passengers?

5. What are the main parts of the project management for railways?

6. Who seeks for collaboration with different railways?

7. What should railways implement in the passenger sector?

8. What did some railways establish to make ticketing easier?

9. Why should managers integrate rail traffic into logistic chains?

10. What should railway managers do to attract workers to switching yards and sorting stations?