ŽOS Vrútky

ŽOS Vrútky a.s. (the abbreviation stands for Železničné opravovne a strojárne Vrútky, or Vrútky Railway Repair Works and Engineering) is a Slovak engineering company based in the town of Vrútky in the Žilina Region. It specialises in the repair, modernisation and manufacture of rail vehicles and their components, and is counted among the significant firms of the Slovak railway industry. The company presents itself as a partner for the railway industry covering the whole chain from design and development through to production, modernisation and repair of rolling stock and components, combining more than 150 years of experience with its own technical know-how, modern production technologies and the ability to handle complex projects. The roots of the railway workshops in Vrútky go back to the late 19th century, when the town became an important railway junction on the Košice–Bohumín line. The first repair workshop, with 101 employees, opened there in 1874. Over time, repair capacities were built up for the maintenance and repair of freight and passenger wagons and locomotives. After the creation of Czechoslovakia the workshops were incorporated into the state railway system, and during the socialist period the enterprise operated as a state repair plant. From 1 January 1974 it bore the name ŽOS SNP Martin-Vrútky. In the 1980s the enterprise repaired roughly 300 electric locomotives and 1,800 passenger coaches per year, with Škoda Plzeň as supplier of spare parts. After 1989 it underwent transformation and has operated as a joint-stock company since 1994. Today ŽOS Vrútky develops and manufactures diesel multiple units and passenger coaches, modernises locomotives, train units and coaches, and provides their repair, maintenance and renovation. Its official website highlights a proprietary bogie solution for rail vehicles capable of 200 km/h, the use of new digital tools for engineering and production, and new-generation sleeping cars offering greater comfort on domestic and international routes. The company remains an active Slovak industrial brand in the railway rolling-stock segment.

The tradition of railway workshops in Vrútky dates back to the end of the 19th century, when the town became an important railway junction on the Košice–Bohumín line. The first repair workshop, with 101 employees, was opened there in 1874. Over time, repair capacities were established for the maintenance and repair of freight and passenger wagons and locomotives. After the creation of Czechoslovakia, the workshops were incorporated into the state railway system. After the German occupation of Vrútky during the Second World War, part of the operation was evacuated to Diviaky (Turčianske Teplice), and part of the workers went to Zvolen, where they took part in the production of armoured trains. During the socialist period the enterprise operated as a state repair plant. From 1 January 1974 it bore the name ŽOS SNP Martin-Vrútky (during the Slovak National Uprising 287 employees joined the resistance), and it was a holder of the Order of Klement Gottwald and the Order of the Red Star; on the occasion of the celebrations of its hundredth anniversary on 20 September of the same year it also received the Order of the Victorious February. In the 1980s the enterprise, besides ŽOS Zvolen, also grouped its own secondary vocational railway school in Martin-Vrútky, where it trained its future specialists. At that time it repaired around 300 electric locomotives and 1,800 passenger coaches per year, with Škoda Plzeň as supplier of spare parts. After 1989 it underwent transformation and has operated as a joint-stock company since 1994. In the present day, ŽOS Vrútky a.s. presents itself as a partner for the railway industry, covering the entire process from design and development to the production, modernisation and repair of rail vehicles and their components. It develops and manufactures diesel multiple units and passenger coaches, modernises locomotives, train units and coaches, and provides their repair, maintenance and renovation. Its website highlights a proprietary bogie solution for rail vehicles capable of 200 km/h, new digital tools for engineering and production, and new-generation sleeping cars for greater comfort on domestic and international routes.

• 1994

  The company has operated as a joint-stock company.

• 1974

  From 1 January the enterprise was named ŽOS SNP Martin-Vrútky; on 20 September it celebrated its hundredth anniversary and received the Order of the Victorious February.

• 1874

  First repair workshop opened in Vrútky with 101 employees.

Partner for the railway industry covering design, development, production, modernisation and repair of rolling stock, combining long tradition with in-house technical know-how.

• Diesel multiple units

• Passenger coaches

• Sleeping cars

• Bogies for 200 km/h

• Locomotive modernisation

1. 1ŽOS Vrútky official websitezos-vrutky.sk
2. 2ŽOS Vrútky – Wikipediecs.wikipedia.org
3. 3ŽOS Vrútky – Wikidatawikidata.org