115 years of railways in Montenegro

PUBLISHED: 02.06.2023.

The delegation of the Ministry of Capital Investments, led by State Secretary Dajana Perković, Director of the Railway Directorate Momčilo Jelić, Chief Tanja Dašić, and Director of the Railway Administration Denis Lukač, attended the celebration of the 115th anniversary of Montenegrin railways.

The meeting was opened by Miroslav Brajović, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Montecargo AD, who welcomed all present and expressed his satisfaction with the organization of a joint meeting of the railway sectors of Montenegro, Serbia, and the Republic of Srpska, on the occasion of the anniversary - 115 years of railways in Montenegro. "Representatives from Serbia, Montenegro, and the Republic of Srpska have gathered here, while unfortunately, representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina were unable to attend due to prior commitments. We will strive to organize everything at a much higher level next year, regardless of which country it is in; what matters is that representatives of the once unified railway sit together at the same table. It is a special honour for me to greet the General Secretary, Mrs. Perković, who, despite numerous obligations, took the time to attend and honour this meeting." said Brajović.

"The railway system requires constant and substantial investments, as well as monitoring of technological innovations and the green agenda. Projects for the rehabilitation of 24 bridges on the Bar railway line have just been completed, while final works on the rehabilitation of 4 tunnels and the reconstruction and adaptation of the station building in Bijelo Polje are ongoing. This Government has recognized the importance of urgent investment in the railway, and in 2023, funds for the current maintenance of tracks and the obligation of public passenger transport have been significantly increased. Over the past 17 years, more than 190 million euros have been invested in infrastructure projects on the railway and over 35 million euros in rolling stock. More than 92% of the track network is powered by electricity, demonstrating our ecological commitment. Major repairs of the tracks have been completed on more than 50% of the entire network, and we are negotiating daily for further works,” stated the State Secretary of the Ministry of Capital Investments Dajana Perković.

The Director of the Railway Directorate of the Ministry of Capital Investments Momčilo Jelić expressed his belief that joint cooperation is key to the further advancement of the railway sector in Montenegro, as well as in the entire region. Through regular meetings and open communication, the relevant ministry will be able to provide support and propose solutions to the current challenges faced by state companies.

The Director of the Railway Administration of Montenegro Denis Lukač highlighted his enthusiasm for the cooperation that should be enhanced and strengthened in the future. By strengthening cooperation between the Ministry of Capital Investments, the Railway Administration, and other relevant stakeholders, we can achieve progress in maintaining and improving railway infrastructure in Montenegro.

"The state of Montenegro has recognized the importance of railway development over these years of more than a century, as a mode of transport that has survived all times, and today it has strong support not only from the state of Montenegro but also from the European Union. We were not deterred by challenging geographical conditions; we had the goal of developing a modern network of standard gauge tracks, and we succeeded in the 1970s when the Bar railway was completed, and somewhat later the railway to Albania," said State Secretary Dajana Perković, adding, "Montenegro proudly celebrated 115 years since the inception of railway transport today. Since its inception, railway transport has played a key role in connecting cities, regions, and people in Montenegro. Over the decades, the railway has become an indispensable part of the infrastructure that has enabled fast and efficient transport of passengers and goods. Today, the railway remains an important pillar of our transport system, facilitating connections within the country as well as with neighbouring and distant destinations. GOOD LUCK!"

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of ŽICG, Radovan Vukić, welcomed the guests from the region, expressed his satisfaction that their presence has enhanced this meeting, and wished them a pleasant and enjoyable stay in Montenegro. Marina Bošković, Executive Director of ŽICG, emphasized that such a meeting is proof that the railway connects and brings people together. Marko Bertanjoli, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ŽPCG, expressed his satisfaction with the organization of such a joint meeting in honour of this beautiful anniversary. He emphasized the importance of having the opportunity to hold a very constructive meeting with colleagues from "Srbija voza" regarding the upcoming tourist season. Ilinka Pavićević, Executive Director of ŽPCG, also greeted those present and wished them a pleasant and enjoyable stay in Montenegro.

Dušanka Dragojević, Executive Director of AD Montecargo, expressed her satisfaction that everyone responded to the invitation and attended the meeting in large numbers, and representatives of the company OŽVS, Mr. Goran Đurković and Mr. Žarko Pušica, also greeted all the guests and wished them a pleasant stay in Montenegro.

The General Director of Serbian Railways, Mr. Goran Adžić, expressed great satisfaction with the organization of the joint meeting of representatives of the railway sectors of Serbia, Montenegro, and the Republic of Srpska and wished a happy anniversary, hoping that the railway companies in Montenegro will endure for a long time and continue to achieve good results. He emphasized that there are many common issues and looks forward to exchanging experiences in the upcoming period, believing in the continuation of the already exceptionally good cooperation.

Lazar Mosurović, Director of the Directorate for Railways of Serbia, wished strength and courage in future work on development, emphasizing that significant progress has already been made in improving the railway sector in Montenegro at all levels. He also highlighted his particular joy at the upcoming opening of the future joint railway station in Bijelo Polje.

Representatives of "Srbija voza", Zoran Puzović and Đorđe Prokić, believe in the continuation and deepening of the already exceptionally good cooperation, emphasizing that they have agreed on important details with the Railway Transport of Montenegro regarding the upcoming tourist season. They presented investments made in coordination with the Ministry and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, aimed at providing sleeper and couchette cars for international trains on the Bar – Belgrade – Bar route. They particularly emphasized their desire and hope that this train becomes a "symbol of connection between Montenegro and Serbia". Representatives of Serbia Cargo and Infrastructure of Serbian Railways congratulated the anniversary, thanked for the hospitality, and noted visible progress related to the reconstruction of the Bar railway. They also stated that they have exceptional cooperation with Montecargo regarding numerous projects. Representatives of the Railways of the Republic of Srpska, Gordana Ilinčić and Iris Brnić, congratulated the anniversary and expressed particular satisfaction at attending this meeting, emphasizing that they have excellent cooperation with the railways of the region through the Transport Community, which they hope will further improve after this meeting.

The history of the railways in Montenegro was discussed by the Executive Director of ŽPCG, Ilinka Pavićević. On this occasion, she recalled the first narrow-gauge railway line Bar – Virpazar, then the line from Trebinje and Bileća, the Nikšić - Titograd line, all the way to the Belgrade – Bar line, the so-called "dream line" which was put into operation on May 28, 1976.

Marina Bošković, Executive Director of ŽICG, reflected on the upcoming opening of the joint border railway station of Serbia and Montenegro in Bijelo Polje, emphasizing that at the beginning of her term, she attended a meeting of the Transport Community where one of her colleagues told her that there are no bad projects and that it is crucial to initiate all projects, which will be corrected along the way to be realized as soon as possible. Encouraged by this advice, and with the support of the Ministry of Capital Investments, ŽICG has activated all planned projects, so we can expect their realization in 3 to 5 years. "One of the most significant projects is certainly the construction of the joint border railway station of Serbia and Montenegro in Bijelo Polje, which will enable shorter travel times, simplify accompanying procedures, and improve and accelerate the transport of goods and passengers, which is in the common interest of both countries,” emphasized Bošković.

The meeting was closed by Mr. Brajović, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AD Montecargo, who is also the host of this two-day event. He thanked all present for a successful and constructive meeting and wished them a pleasant continuation of their stay in Montenegro.