One of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Montenegro continues to attract foreign tourists.
PUBLISHED: 27.09.2023.
Recognising the significance and untapped potential of the railway route in Montenegro, which deserves attention for its attractiveness and numerous tourist landmarks and national parks in close proximity, similar to well-known railway lines in Europe, the management of Montenegro Railways AD Podgorica has expressed interest and readiness to initiate cooperation with the Ministry of Capital Investments, the Railway Directorate, and other key institutions and foreign partners with the aim of introducing new content into Montenegro's tourist offer.
Thus, in addition to German tourists who have been our almost daily guests this season, tourists from Hungary and Switzerland have recently arrived in Montenegro on special trains organised in cooperation with Montenegro Railways AD Podgorica, attracted by the beauty and spectacular nature of the Belgrade – Bar line, particularly the section between Bar and Kolašin, as well as the charms of travelling by train.
We are pleased to confirm, as we announced previously, that railway passenger transport is indeed becoming a significant part of Montenegro's tourist offer. For the first time, passenger cars and dining wagons such as the Swiss "Train Bleu" and "Prestige Continental Express", as well as the "Continental Classic Express" from the Hungarian company "Continental Railway Solution", have been seen on the Montenegrin railway, led by locomotives from Montenegro Railways.
As a result of intensive cooperation and promotion of our company's services, on 20.09.2023, a special train entered Montenegro, bringing passengers on an eight-day journey from Geneva to Bar, and on 24.09.2023, a special train from Budapest to Bar followed.
Retro compositions in the style of the Orient Express, with passenger lounges and dining cars, attracted attention during their journey to Bar, and foreign tourists enthusiastically photographed the fairy-tale landscapes in northern Montenegro, the bridge on the Mala Rijeka, the Morača Canyon, Lake Skadar, and the Adriatic Sea. Both trains departed from Bar back to their destinations on 26.09.2023, and during the journey on the Podgorica – Kolašin – Podgorica route, a working lunch was held with representatives of Montenegro Railways, the Ministry of Capital Investments, the Railway Directorate, Montecarga, and on 16 February, the hosts were representatives of the company Continental Railway Solution from Hungary, Mr. Andras Szigeti and Mr. Attila Szeplaki.
Mr. Andras Szigeti, the General Director of Continental Railway Solution, who warmly welcomed the guests, stated: "The most important thing is that we had the opportunity to meet with colleagues from the railway sector and see how we can start discussions on future ideas. It is also an extremely good idea to see directly on the ground how long it takes to serve lunch or dinner on the route from Podgorica to Kolašin and back. Montenegro is quite a developed tourist destination, but from the perspective of a tourist who is a railway enthusiast, the Bar – Kolašin railway is not well known. In my opinion, a special train ride to Kolašin could be an attraction year-round, and the Bar – Kolašin railway could be as significant a tourist destination as Mostar or Kotor, attracting tourists from all over the world. This is an ideal day trip or half-day trip both in summer and winter, as the nature in the canyons is completely different during each season and always offers fantastic changes in landscape. Additionally, we aim to start discussions on establishing a regular railway connection between Budapest or Bratislava and Bar."
"I hope that today's event marks the beginning of a very good and successful future cooperation with the Hungarian railway company. What is truly important for our Company, and equally for the development of tourism in Montenegro, is that we have shown the Hungarians over these four days that we can be a credible partner despite all the challenges we face. What particularly pleases us is their interest in establishing a regular weekly line from Budapest to Bar starting in spring 2024. These visits came at the very end of the tourist season, which we can say has been challenging yet successful for us as a Company, as evidenced by today's event. The numbers speak for themselves, as we can see in the segments of the number of transported passengers and total revenue, where we are clearly recording growth compared to previous years. Our goal in the upcoming period is to invest the funds approved through the credit arrangement with Eurofima, as well as part of the revenue we have generated through our operations, into the refurbishment of existing and the purchase of second-hand rolling stock, all with the aim of better preparing for both the winter and the next summer season," concluded Mr. Marko Bertanjoli, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Montenegro Railways AD Podgorica.