Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics - NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Railway undertakings providing transport of passengers or goods (Section H – Transportation and Storage, class 49.10-Passenger rail transport, interurban and class 49.20- Freight rail transport, according to NKD Rev.2.).
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The main concepts used in rail domain are:
Rail passenger means any person, excluding members of the train crew, who makes a trip by rail. For accident statistics, passengers trying to embark/disembark onto/from a moving train are included.
Passenger-km means the unit of measure representing the transport of one passenger by rail over a distance of one kilometer. Only the distance on the national territory of the reporting country shall be taken into account.
Weight means the quantity of goods in tonnestones (1 000 kilograms). The weight to be taken into consideration includes, in addition to the weight of the goods transported, the weight of packaging and the tare weight of containers, swap bodies, pallets as well as road vehicles transported by rail in the course of combined transport operations. If the goods are transported using the services of more than one railway undertaking, when possible the weight of goods shall not be counted more than once.
Tonne-km means the unit of measure of goods transport which represents the transport of one tonne (1 000 kilograms) of goods by rail over a distance of one kilometer. Only the distance on the national territory of the reporting country shall be taken into account.
Train means one or more railway vehicles hauled by one or more locomotives or railcars, or one railcar travelling alone, running under a given number or specific designation from an initial fixed point to a terminal fixed point. A light engine, that is to say, a locomotive travelling on its own, is not considered to be a train.
Train-km means the unit of measure representing the movement of a train over one kilometre. The distance used is the distance actually run, if available, otherwise the standard network distance between the origin and destination shall be used. Only the distance on the national territory of the reporting country shall be taken into account.
3.5. Statistical unit
Railway undertakings providing transport of passengers or goods.
3.6. Statistical population
Data on passenger and freight transport are collected from the railway undertakings operating at national territory. Data on traffic are collected from infrastructure managers and railway undertakings.
3.7. Reference area
Operational railway network on national territory.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data on passengers and goods are covered from 1956 onwards.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The volume and performance of rail freight traffic are measured in tonnes (mass) and tonne-kilometres.
Passenger transport by rail is measured in the number of passengers and in passenger-kilometres.
Information on the number of train kilometres is also available.
The tables consist mostly of annual data. There are some tables providing quarterly and quinquennial (every five years) data.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Law on State Statistics - “Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” No. 54/1997, 21/2007, 51/2011, 104/2013, 42/2014, 192/2015, 27/16, 83/18 and 220/18, link.
Five-year Statistical Programme, 2023 - 2027 - “Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” No. 29/23, link.
Individual data are protected by the Law on State Statistics – link.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
According to the article 38 from the Law on State Statistics (link) and the Policy on Statistical Confidentiality( link), all the individual data are confidential and they are not published.
8.1. Release calendar
Release calendar contains the review of publications planned to be issued in current year.
In accordance with the dissemination policy, all users have equal access to statistics at the same time. The data are published on the website at the same time for all users, who are informed by the Release Calendar, and no user has privileged treatment. The statistical data are first published in the "News Releases" edition on the WEB page of the SSO at 12 o'clock.
Rail transport statistics are published quarterly and annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The News release "Transport of passengers and goods, quartely. Aggregated data for total passengers carried and passenger - kilometres and total tonnes carried and tonne kilometres.
Regions of the Republic of North Macedonia - annual data -link
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological explanations are published on web-page of SSO. Explanations which are part of publications "Transport and other services, 2015".
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Methodological explanations are available at SSO web page.
11.1. Quality assurance
The quality of the processes and products in the State Statistical Office is ensured by adhering to the European Statistics Code of Practice( link)and the Quality Assurance Framework within the European Statistical System (ESS Quality Assurance Framework –link). The quality criteria are also determined in the Law on State Statistics in Article 4b and Article 4c (link).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The State Statistical Office carries out statistical activities in accordance with the Statistical Business Process Model, which is based on the international model - Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM). The application of this model and international standards in statistical production ensures a high level of accuracy and comparability of data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The data are used from diferent governmental institution with aim of observing economical situation in the countries and as indicator represents initial basis for implementation of diferent Reference Metadata in ESMS 2.0 structure State Statistical Office economical analysis, creating strategic plans for initiating future activities and decision making in realising economical policies.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Starting from 2009, the State Statistical Office conducts a User Satisfaction Survey every three years.
12.3. Completeness
In relation with indicators that are foreseen in accordance with Regulation No.70/2012 on European Parlament and Council (EC), SSO provides 100% of them.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The survey methodology and the data collection method ensure good coverage and accuracy of the data.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Measurement errors: Data providers are informed for the Survey with delivering of information letters. Collected data are controled in SSO. Processing errors: Data entry was made in data entry application. During data entry automatic controls are implemented, e.g: data entry control, and additional control after finishing of data entry. In case of bigger shortcomings in questionnaires, data providers were contacted. Errors in non-response, non-response rate is 0%.
14.1. Timeliness
All the statistics required by the provisions of the Regulation EU 2018/643 are transmitted to Eurostat in deadlines prescribed by Regulation.
ANNEX I: 5 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX II: 8 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX III: 3 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX IV: 12 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX V: 18 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX VIII: 5 months after the end of the reference period for Table L1 and 8 months after the end of the reference period for Table L2.
14.2. Punctuality
All rail datasets are transmitted to Eurostat within deadlines specified in the Regulation EU 2018/643.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data are produced on national level. Comparability is achieved on international level.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Since 1956 there is no break in the time series.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data are coherent between diferent parts of transport statistics. Coherence with other areas is not ensured.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence of data is ensured.
It is not calculated.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data revision is made in accordance with the Statistical Data Revision Policy of the SSO(link).
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable, there is no revision in this area.
18.1. Source data
The collection of data is with full coverage. The statistical questionnaires are filled in by business entities classified in theSection H – Transportation and Storage, class 49.10-Passenger rail transport, interurban and class 49.20- Freight rail transport, according to NKD Rev.2.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly and annually.
18.3. Data collection
The data is collected based on full-scale coverage with a method of self - fullfiling of statistical questionnaire. Enterprises are filling in data in statistical questionnaires and delivery it by the e-mail to SSO.
18.4. Data validation
Data control is performed in accordance with defined control criteria. Data control is made before and after data entry. Control is performed on the final data before its dissemination.
18.5. Data compilation
Editing: The data received from businesses entities, after verification and correction in consultation with the reporting units, are entered in an electronic application with integrated on-line controls. Calculation: Output data are defined in application.
18.6. Adjustment
No data adjustment is made.
No further comments.
Data collection at EU level is based on legal act, the Regulation EU 2018/643 and covers goods and passengers. Data is collected as following:
Annex I (annual data) –goods transport ,
Annex II (annual data)–passenger transport,
Annex III – (quarterly data) goods and passengers,
Annex IV and V( data every five years) regional statistics on goods and passengers and rail network and
Annex VIII (annual data) goods and passengers transport for small undertakings.
24 October 2024
The main concepts used in rail domain are:
Rail passenger means any person, excluding members of the train crew, who makes a trip by rail. For accident statistics, passengers trying to embark/disembark onto/from a moving train are included.
Passenger-km means the unit of measure representing the transport of one passenger by rail over a distance of one kilometer. Only the distance on the national territory of the reporting country shall be taken into account.
Weight means the quantity of goods in tonnestones (1 000 kilograms). The weight to be taken into consideration includes, in addition to the weight of the goods transported, the weight of packaging and the tare weight of containers, swap bodies, pallets as well as road vehicles transported by rail in the course of combined transport operations. If the goods are transported using the services of more than one railway undertaking, when possible the weight of goods shall not be counted more than once.
Tonne-km means the unit of measure of goods transport which represents the transport of one tonne (1 000 kilograms) of goods by rail over a distance of one kilometer. Only the distance on the national territory of the reporting country shall be taken into account.
Train means one or more railway vehicles hauled by one or more locomotives or railcars, or one railcar travelling alone, running under a given number or specific designation from an initial fixed point to a terminal fixed point. A light engine, that is to say, a locomotive travelling on its own, is not considered to be a train.
Train-km means the unit of measure representing the movement of a train over one kilometre. The distance used is the distance actually run, if available, otherwise the standard network distance between the origin and destination shall be used. Only the distance on the national territory of the reporting country shall be taken into account.
Railway undertakings providing transport of passengers or goods.
Data on passenger and freight transport are collected from the railway undertakings operating at national territory. Data on traffic are collected from infrastructure managers and railway undertakings.
Operational railway network on national territory.
The tables consist mostly of annual data. There are some tables providing quarterly and quinquennial (every five years) data.
The survey methodology and the data collection method ensure good coverage and accuracy of the data.
The volume and performance of rail freight traffic are measured in tonnes (mass) and tonne-kilometres.
Passenger transport by rail is measured in the number of passengers and in passenger-kilometres.
Information on the number of train kilometres is also available.
Editing: The data received from businesses entities, after verification and correction in consultation with the reporting units, are entered in an electronic application with integrated on-line controls. Calculation: Output data are defined in application.
The collection of data is with full coverage. The statistical questionnaires are filled in by business entities classified in theSection H – Transportation and Storage, class 49.10-Passenger rail transport, interurban and class 49.20- Freight rail transport, according to NKD Rev.2.
Rail transport statistics are published quarterly and annually.
All the statistics required by the provisions of the Regulation EU 2018/643 are transmitted to Eurostat in deadlines prescribed by Regulation.
ANNEX I: 5 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX II: 8 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX III: 3 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX IV: 12 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX V: 18 months after the end of the reference period
ANNEX VIII: 5 months after the end of the reference period for Table L1 and 8 months after the end of the reference period for Table L2.
Data are produced on national level. Comparability is achieved on international level.
