We are publishing the document titled “Proposal of Measures for Solving Traffic on Narrow Gauge Rail Lines South of Čapljina,” prepared by the Institute for Research and Engineering of the Sarajevo Railway Transport Company, for the year 1974.
Subject to substitution as an imperative
From this elaboration, you can read that after considering and reaching certain conclusions that would indicate potential ways to further resolve the issue of narrow-gauge tracks south of Čapljina, ŽTP Sarajevo proposes replacing railway traffic on the narrow-gauge tracks with road traffic.
Currently, the state of the road networks in the area of the Čapljina – Dubrovnik, Hum – Bileća, and Bileća – Nikšić lines allows for access to the following places: Gabela, Hrasno, Hutovo, Hum, Uskoplje, Dubrovnik, Ljubova-Duži, Trebinje, Lastva, Bileća, Nikšić, as well as to Ravno, Zavala, Petrovići, Vilusi, with travel on shorter routes taking place on gravel or poor local roads.
In the same document, it is stated (since 1968, when the narrow Uskoplje – Zelenika line was discontinued) that although measures of rationalization have been implemented to reduce costs, these are still affected by the deterioration and unfunctionality of capacities, including both the railways and the rolling stock, traction vehicles, and transshipment capacities, as well as high transportation costs. Overall, these railways cause (and will continue to cause) permanent business losses.
Since substitution is presented as an imperative, the expert team, through this elaboration, proposes possible options (which clearly demonstrate its justification) regarding the costs of railway freight transportation in relation to road transportation costs and the method of resolving the surplus of workers, as these lines employed a total of 1,744 workers, and a solution needs to be found for 944 workers.
Investing in modernization (at two meetings in July 1974, the Mostar Chamber of Commerce, together with representatives of socio-political communities and labor organizations, assessed the economic justification of normalizing narrow-gauge tracks) and equipping the railway line for 170 km is out of the question because the scope of work on the line would not justify any significant investments.
Considering the overall difficult situation of the company and the limited capabilities of ŽTP Sarajevo regarding the assumption of financial obligations during the phase of railway discontinuation and substitution implementation, the following activities are proposed:
- Preparation and obtaining of the necessary approvals for the suspension of railway traffic (planned from June 1, 1975),
- Final organization of road transport,
- A detailed employment plan for the workforce (technological redundancy), required qualifications (retraining), early retirement of workers, etc.,
- Determining the financing structure and securing the necessary investment funds for the implementation of the substitution program.
An interesting detail regarding the employment of the workforce states that all tractor units (trucks with trailers) must be operated by two qualified drivers. Priority is given to laid-off workers from the narrow gauge line who have the possibility of obtaining the necessary driving license category. The same document also discusses the choice of road vehicle type, and the selected vehicle is the domestic-made FAP 1314 FF with 145 HP and the accompanying trailer “Itas.”
In conclusion, these proposals result from an assessment of the general social interests of the Republic of BiH, and therefore ŽTP Sarajevo, through this elaboration, suggests to the competent authorities of the Republic a way of rationally resolving the issue of narrow-gauge tracks south of Čapljina.
Click on the PDF document to view the report: