Serbia Railways Asset Management Plan Using Life-Cycle Costs

The objective of the World Bank’s technical assistance (TA) in the asset management planning ofSerbia’s railways, using the life-cycle cost (LCC) method, is to improve the condition of key track infrastructure in the country. The appropriate use of the LCC model would enable Serbian Railways Infrastructure (Infrastruktura Zeleznice Srbije, IZS) to optimize the use of the scarce financial resources available for maintaining track infrastructure. The LCC model offers a simple and inexpensive way to estimate the longevity and condition of track infrastructure and the costsassociated with its renewal and maintenance. This is important, as the model’s concepts and principles form the foundation for the establishment of a more advanced rail asset management(RAM) system. This TA introduces this capacity in IZS, with a focus on track infrastructure, and thus, paves the way for further advances in RAM, which ideally will cover all rail system components (structures, signaling, rolling stock, and others). This report describes the LCC model, as it is applied to managing track assets; outlines the steps followed during the TA to transfer requisite knowledge to IZS; and recommends how IZS might solidify the implementation of the LCC model. The report concludes with recommended next steps and offers guidance for other countries seeking to improve the sustainability of their rail infrastructure