Russian Railways begins work on Belgrade-Bar railway reconstruction

Deputy PM and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic

Russian Railways Holding has begun work on the Belgrade-Bar railway reconstruction as part of the Trans-European Transport Corridor XI.

Deputy PM and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic (image www.mgsi.gov.rs)

On the 15 July, First Vice-President of Russian Railways Alexander Misharin and Serbian Deputy PM and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic attended a ceremony at Vreoci station in Belgrade, Serbia, marking the start of reconstruction work on the line between Resnik – a suburb south of Belgrade – to Valjevo in the west of the country.

77.6 km Resnik – Valjevo section first stage of the Belgrade-Bar railway reconstruction

The 77.6 km-long Resnik – Valjevo track section will be the first stage of the Belgrade (Serbia) – Bar (Montenegro) mainline reconstruction as part of the Trans-European Transport Corridor XI.

The Belgrade-Bar stretch is the longest railway line in Serbia, running 287km to the Serbia-Montenegro border. It’s the first renovation and reconstruction project to be implemented after over 40 years in operation.  Russian Railways International will meet up-to-date security and high-speed railway requirements at the Resnik – Valjevo section by performing reconstruction works of the roadbed, track structures, two tunnels and seventeen bridges, the overhead line, signalling and telecommunications systems; the company will also carry out maintenance of all infrastructure facilities along the railway, including ten stations. Part of the construction and installation work will be completed by Serbian subcontractor companies.

Speaking at the ceremony, First Vice-President of JSC Russian Railways Alexander Misharin stressed that the Resnik – Valjevo reconstruction will increase the maximum speed of passenger trains on the railway line from 50 km/h to 120 km/h.

The Resnik – Valjevo stretch reconstruction will be performed in accordance with the annex to the contract for construction and reconstruction work on the Serbian railway infrastructure concluded in the framework of the agreement signed between the Russian Federation Government and the Republic of Serbia Government for a government export credit to the Republic of Serbia. The contract is said to be worth approximately US$80 million.

 The Resnik – Valjevo track section will enter operation in June 2018