ABSTRACT
The organization of railways began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the form of small private enterprises. The strategic importance of the railways for the economy and the security of various countries, combined with the deficits which had already begun to appear, led most governments, between 1935 and 1960, to nationalize their railways. Therefore, most railways became part of the state administration or were under state control (1960s-:-1980s period).
