In the field of rail transport, better results have been achieved compared to the previous period, indicating a significant improvement in this crucial sector for Montenegro’s economic development, said the former State Secretary of the Ministry of Capital Investments, Dajana Perković.
She particularly highlighted two major projects of the Ministry of Capital Investments.
“The first, which is the result of excellent cooperation between the European Commission and the Ministry of Capital Investments, relates to recently approved non-repayable funds amounting to EUR 112.6 million for the reconstruction of the railway section Bar-Golubovci, which is 39.6 kilometers long. This is the largest grant ever awarded to Montenegro through the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans,” Perković said.
The approved application represents a continuation of activities by the Ministry to stimulate corridor development from Bar, across the border with Serbia, to Belgrade and further into the Trans-European Corridor network. This will make Montenegro more attractive for traffic flows and better positioned in the transportation market.
Moreover, conditions have finally been met for the modernization of rail transport, contributing to the improvement of passenger transport quality.
“With great pleasure, I want to announce that in two years, the Railway Transport will have new trains. Specifically, the Competition Protection Agency has approved the application for the procurement of three sets of new electric trains, through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),” Perković said.
For this purpose, Railway Transport will receive state guarantees from the Government, totaling EUR 30 million.
“I would like to emphasize that the CAF trains, currently in use, were last purchased more than ten years ago,” Perković added.
Recently, a contract worth EUR 80 million was signed with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). These funds will be used for the rehabilitation of 20 kilometers of the Bar railway, 13 bridges, and eight tunnels, as well as equipping and modernizing depots and workshops for train maintenance. It will also finance the continuation of works on the railway section from Trebešnica station towards Bar.
“I would like to remind you that the Competition Protection Agency gave a positive opinion on loans for the issuance of state guarantees to Railway Transport and Montecargo, amounting to five million euros. Railway Transport will use the funds of two million euros for the purchase of railway material for the urgent repair of vehicles used for passenger transport,” Perković said.
On the other hand, Montecargo plans to use three million euros to repair locomotives and wagons, and with the remaining funds, to acquire necessary series of freight wagons.
“I will also address the work of the former management of the Ministry of Capital Investments, led by Minister Ervin Ibrahimović. During that period, serious work was done, and extraordinary results were achieved in the field of rail transport, as confirmed by the aforementioned projects approved by renowned European partners,” said Perković.
Thanks to the engagement of former leaders of the ministries of capital investments and finance, changes to the Collective Agreement of the Railway Infrastructure and Railway Transport were adopted, significantly increasing coefficients and, consequently, salaries for about a thousand employees.
