Modernization of Serbian Railway Infrastructure

A significant step for the development of Serbia’s railway infrastructure has been made with the signing of a contract to construct a bypass railway around Niš, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

This project is valued at 153.6 million euros and its implementation is entrusted to a consortium led by Extra Auto Transport in collaboration with China Road and Bridge Corporation.

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The work will begin in July and will last about three years.

The goal of building the bypass is to relieve the center of Niš from freight railway traffic, thereby improving the environmental situation and increasing traffic safety.

The new route, 22.4 km long, will allow trains to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h and will be part of a larger project to modernize the railway connection with Dimitrovgrad on the border with Bulgaria.

The route will start at Niš Ranžirna station and end at Sićevo station. As part of the project, three new stations will be built: Niš Sever, Pantelej, and Vrežina.

Niš Sever station will include four tracks, a station building, an underground passage, and platforms.

Pantelej station will become an important transport hub, connecting the lines to Dimitrovgrad and Zaječar, with five tracks and two platforms.

At Vrežina station, four tracks each 750 meters long, a two-story station building, an underground passage, and other necessary facilities will be constructed.

The project also includes a temporary checkpoint in Prosek until the modernization of the Niš-Dimitrovgrad section is completed.

The total cost of the project is 268.3 million euros, a significant portion of which is financed by the European Investment Bank and the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić already initiated the reconstruction of the Pirot – Sukovo section in March 2024, emphasizing the importance of modernizing the railway network for the country.

The European Commission also supports Serbia, providing a grant of 600 million euros for the renovation of the Belgrade – Niš line.

The implementation of these projects will not only improve the quality of railway communication but also contribute to the economic development of the region, strengthen ties with neighboring countries, and integrate Serbia into the pan-European transport network.

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