Macedonia to replace decades old trains with New

Mak Railway System next in line for upgrade

Works for overhaul of Corridor 10 railroad sections Kumanovo-Tabanovce and Miravci-Smokvica were launched at the Kumanovo railway station of Saturday.

The activities are part of the Government's project for reconstruction of Corridor 10, 54km-long sections, worth EUR 17,6 million.

Besides the Kumanovo-Tabanovce and Miravci-Smokvica sections, the project also includes railroad Nogaevci-Negotino.

"This reconstruction will significantly improve the railway's operations, increase safety of this type of transport, as well as enable increased speeds of trains up to 120kph", said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski at the event marking the start of reconstruction works.

German consortium "Wiebe & Alpine" is the contractor of the works, due to be completed in one year.

According to PM Gruevski, preparatory activities for reconstruction of railroad section Bitola-Kremenica, which is currently not in use, have also begun, which would result in improvement of possibilities for transport between Macedonia and Greece.

"Its reconstruction is significant for industrial zone 'Zabeni' near Bitola, but also meets requirements by the business community for establishment of a railway link between the Pelagonija region and Greece's north", he added.

The Corridor 10 overhaul process also includes railroad sections Kumanovo-Deljadrovce and Dracevo-Veles, along with the reconstruction of larger railway stations.

"Besides investments in new and reconstruction of old railroad sections, we are planning the procurement of new train compositions and cars, improvements in safety and signal system at railroads, as well as other projects that clearly demonstrate the better tomorrow of Macedonia's railway transport", underlined PM Gruevski. 

Janakieski: Construction of railway Corridor 8 to begin next spring

The construction of the railway corridor 8, a section from Kumanovo to Beljakovce is to begin on February or March 2013, Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski said at Sunday’s press conference.

The talks with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are underway from which funds at amount of EUR 46.4 million are to be provided this year and the construction of section from Kumanovo to Beljakovce is to begin during 2013 and to be completed in 2017, Janakieski said.

He added that grant has been approved from Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) instrument for selection of consultants, which will monitor Kumanovo – Beljakovce section at amount of EUR 2.5 million.

Public Enterprise Macedonian Railways Infrastructure on March 29, 2012 signed agreement with Austria’s consulting company ILF which is to prepare the project and tender documentation for selection of construction company. In September the public call will be announced for engagement of construction company and on February or March next year the construction works from Kumanovo to Beljakovce section will begin, he added.

European bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB) pointed out the necessity of breaking the contracts that Public Enterprise Macedonian Railways Infrastructure had signed with construction companies as pre-condition for future credit loans, Janakieski said.

That’s why government at its last session proposed law on cease of valid of law on providing fund for financing programme for construction of railway track approved in 1994.

In regard to Beljakovce – Kriva Palanka section, Janakieski said that European Investment Bank informed them in a letter that they will enter the investment of the project for which EUR 145 million are needed for the construction works.

Related to Kriva Palanka – Deve Bair section, Janakieski said that it is most difficult and most expensive section. Ministry of Transport and Communications has submitted request to IPA for providing funds at amount of EUR 2 million for preparation of basic projects.

This section is estimated to cost EUR 332 million, funds which would be provided by IPA, EBRD and EIB, Janakieski said adding that the construction of the section is planned to begin in 2017 and to end in 5-year deadline.

Free Wi-Fi at Skopje Railroad Station

Skopje, 14 June 2012 (MIA) - Free Wi-Fi will be available at the Skopje Railroad Station as of Thursday noon.

The free Internet will be available in the passenger section and the station platforms.

The Wi-Fi project, implemented by Macedonian Railways-Infrastructure, aims at securing free Internet at stations throughout Macedonia.

Macedonian Railways, German consortium Wiebe&Alpine sign agreement on renewal of tracks – part of Corridor X

Skopje, 10 April 2012 (MIA) - Macedonian Public Enterprise for Rail Infrastructure (PERI) and German Consortium 'Wiebe & Alpine' signed Tuesday in Skopje an agreement on revitalization of two tracks along the Corridor X railways line, namely Tabanovce-Karpos-Kumanovo and Miravci-Smokvica sections.

The project covers an upgrading of a total of 25 km-long tracks and will be realized under the sovereign EUR 6,9million-loan of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The EBRD is supporting further modernisation of the country's transport infrastructure with a total of EUR17.6 million-loan to finance track renewal along the Corridor X railways line in Macedonia. This will take the form of the replacement of wooden with concrete sleepers and the supply of new rails where, applicable, along approximately 50 km of track.

The loan also covers the renewal of the 30km Negotno-Nogaevci track, which wraps up the Corridor X renewal, PERI General Director Irfan Asani said at a press conference.

Corridor X is the main north-south route in Macedonia, providing a connection to Serbia and onwards to Europe in the north, and to Greece in the south. Modernisation of the rail network is one of the country's priorities, given its importance for the promotion of local industry and international trade. lk/15:53

Skopje Railway Station set for upgrade

The Macedonian Government is continuing with furious tempo to build new and upgrade the existing infrastructure around the country. 

The upgrade of Skopje’s main railway station, a project worth 2.6 million euro ($3.6 million), is planned to get underway in mid-2012, the Transport Ministry said.

A consultant that will draw up the project in line with European Union standards is planned to be picked this year, Transport Ministry spokesman Dragan Simonovski said in a written statement sent to local media on Tuesday.