{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,9]],"date-time":"2026-07-09T06:03:51Z","timestamp":1783577031217,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,5]],"date-time":"2020-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1588636800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Symmetry"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The analysis of operations of the passenger traffic operator in the Republic of Srpska (RS) showed that the volume of passenger transport has, for the last fifteen years, been in constant decline. It is of particular importance that the operator has, year after year, recorded a negative balance of business. The way out of the current unfavorable situation in the sector of passenger traffic is based on the application of Public Service Obligation (PSO) based on the Regulation 1370\/2007. In order to solve the problems, seven realistically possible variants have been identified. This paper defines the criteria for selecting the best variant, as well as a new integrated fuzzy model for the selection of the best variant that will enable the operator to make a profit. To define the weights of criteria in this paper, we have used the fuzzy PIvot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment (F-PIPRECIA) method, while for ranking and selection of the best variant, we have used the Fuzzy Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (F-EDAS) method. Results show that the seventh variant: \u201cIncrease in revenue from ticket sales and PSO services and reduction in costs\u201c is the best solution in current conditions. Validation tests are performed with different scenarios and approaches and show that the model is stable. A validity test was created consisting of variations in the significance of model input parameters, testing of reverse rank, applying the fuzzy Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to the COmpromise Solution (F-MARCOS), fuzzy Simple Additive Weighing (F-SAW) method, and fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (F-TOPSIS). As a part of the validation tests, Spearman\u2019s coefficient of correlation (SCC) in some scenarios is performed and weights of the criteria have been obtained using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F-AHP) and Full Consistency Method (FUCOM).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/sym12050743","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,7]],"date-time":"2020-05-07T04:46:07Z","timestamp":1588826767000},"page":"743","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":38,"title":["A New Integrated Fuzzy Approach to Selecting the Best Solution for Business Balance of Passenger Rail Operator: Fuzzy PIPRECIA-Fuzzy EDAS Model"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Slavko","family":"Veskovi\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 305, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4452-5768","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u017deljko","family":"Stevi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of East Sarajevo, Vojvode Mi\u0161i\u0107a 52, 74000 Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Darjan","family":"Karaba\u0161evi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, Jevrejska 24, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Snje\u017eana","family":"Rajili\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bosnia and Herzegovina Railways Public Corporation, Kneza Milo\u0161a 105, 74000 Doboj, Bosna and Hercegovina"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sanjin","family":"Milinkovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 305, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7972-3292","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gordan","family":"Stoji\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Technical sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovi\u0107a 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stoji\u0107, G., Mladenovi\u0107, D., Prentkovskis, O., and Veskovi\u0107, S. 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