Kosovo's railway system to be upgraded

The agreement to repair and upgrade 34 kilometres of track between Fush Kosov/Kosovo Polje and Mitrovica was made possible by the European Union’s funding of €91 million.

The deal was sealed by the EU ambassador in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, and the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.

An announcement from the EU Office in Kosovo detailed upcoming construction projects with a price tag of up to €68 million, to be completed over the course of the next 15 months.

The European Union is contributing €27 million to the project through its Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has committed to provide €41 million.

“We are now starting to rehabilitate and upgrade the second section of the regional Railway Route 10 in Kosovo, which is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and connects Kosovo with the region and the rest of Europe,” stated Ambassador Tomas Szunyog.

He went on to say that the deal was monumental because it would improve Kosovo's transportation infrastructure, which will in turn spur economic development and the creation of new employment. Kosovo's entry into the unified regional and European Union markets is also seen as a potential benefit.

The first 66 kilometres, from the North Macedonian border to Fush Kosova, will undergo upgrades beginning in August 2019 and wrapping up by the end of 2020. Meanwhile, work is progressing on plans to enhance the third segment, beginning at Mitrovica.

There are a total of 256 kilometres of railway track that go from North Macedonia via Kosovo and into Serbia, with 148 of those kilometres located within Kosovo.

Premier Albin Kurti has expressed his country's appreciation to the European Union and, in particular, the European Commission for their assistance with the funding and restoration of the railway line. Kurti claims that the future railway in Kosovo will be fully interoperable as stipulated by EU rules.

In the past, substantial structural limits capped speeds on railway line 10 at 60 km/h. This restoration is the country's first significant investment in the railway industry, and will include the replacement of old switches, tracks, and sleepers as well as the repair of tunnels and railroad bridges.

 

Source: schengenvisainfo.com