Balkans-Vienna Railway Improvement A Top Priority for European Integration
Sarajevo Rail Summit
At the so-called “Rail Summit” in Sarajevo at the end of February 2006 agreement was reached on a swift railway improvement scheme between the Balkans and Vienna. Speedier and more satisfactory freight transport was set as the main objective in the transport sector. This would improve the competitiveness of Balkan countries as well as of Europe in general. The invitation was extended by the premier of the Bosnian Federation, Ahmet Hadzipasic. Also taking part were representatives of railway companies from the adjoining countries as well as the director of Slovene Railways, Joze Jurkovic.
New Sarajevo-Vienna Rail-Cargo
Concrete agreement was reached on the introduction of a new railway link for freight transport between Sarajevo and Vienna, as well as of a direct rail link for tourist traffic between Sarajevo, Zagreb, Ljubljana and Belgrade.
Through a new, modern railway infrastructure Bosnia hopes to emerge from its international isolation and to boost its economy. Premier Hadzipasic stressed that Bosnia would encourage the introduction of a unified railway system for the whole country.
Apart from purely industrial stretches the Bosnian railway system covers a total length of 1031 km. It was extensively damaged during the recent Balkan wars. Long waiting periods occur not only at the frontiers but also even during locomotive switching when travelling between the Federation and the partial Republika Srpska. Only now is a fast, modern and efficient railway system being introduced.
In the cargo sector the Bosnian railway system is used mainly by the chemicals industry in Tuzla, the iron-works in Zenica, the coal-mines in Zenica and Tuzla, the aluminium plants in Mostar, industry in the Greater Sarajevo area and the oil-dispatchers. Apart from purely domestic stretches rail connections for tourist traffic only exist to Zagreb and Budapest.
New trains from Great Britain are expected to arrive early in summer from Great Britain and will be put into service at the latest in December 2006. These new units will be deployed on the railway lines to Belgrade, Zagreb, Budapest and the Croat harbour of Ploce. For international tourist traffic modern carriages will be brought into service in 2010-11. In addition Bosnia is pressing for EU subsidies for rail improvements in south-east Europe (the so-called Vc Corridor). This will enable the harbour of Ploce to be connected by means of a modern railway infrastructure with Sarajevo, Osijek and Budapest.
Zagreb: Priority for rail improvements to Vienna
In Croatia too an improvement in the railway connection between Zagreb and Vienna is seen as being of great importance. The intention is to conclude the process of railway structure modernisation by 2007. The total amount of investment is put at HRK 15,300 million (approx. € 2,100 million). A reduction in the time taken to travel from Zagreb to Vienna from seven hours to six hours and 22 minutes has already been achieved. A further project envisages a link between Zagreb and Vienna passing through Hungary instead of, at present, through Slovenia. This would shorten the total length of the railway journey by 90 km or, to put it in another way, would reduce the time taken for the journey by 1½ hours. A total reduction of the journey-time to about 4 hours is the goal set for final completion of the stretch. Vienna would also be connected with the ports of Rijeka and Split. This matter was discussed a few months ago in connection with a planned railway link between Zagreb and Prague. Two routes are currently being analysed: Zagreb-Zidani Most-Graz-Vienna-Prague and Zagreb-Gyékényes-Vienna-Prague.
Slovenia also wants to make its railways competitive
In Ljubljana Dejan Podgorsek, press spokesman for Slovene Railways, confirmed that Slovenia is highly interested in installing a modern railway infrastructure in south-east Europe. Apart from a new link to Sarajevo freight-traffic should also be stepped up. By mid-March 2006 a new cost-analysis will be available for Rail Cargo between Sarajevo, Ljubljana and Villach. The overall aim is once again to make rail transport in south-east Europe attractive and competitive.
At the so-called “Rail Summit” in Sarajevo at the end of February 2006 agreement was reached on a swift railway improvement scheme between the Balkans and Vienna. Speedier and more satisfactory freight transport was set as the main objective in the transport sector. This would improve the competitiveness of Balkan countries as well as of Europe in general. The invitation was extended by the premier of the Bosnian Federation, Ahmet Hadzipasic. Also taking part were representatives of railway companies from the adjoining countries as well as the director of Slovene Railways, Joze Jurkovic.
New Sarajevo-Vienna Rail-Cargo
Concrete agreement was reached on the introduction of a new railway link for freight transport between Sarajevo and Vienna, as well as of a direct rail link for tourist traffic between Sarajevo, Zagreb, Ljubljana and Belgrade.
Through a new, modern railway infrastructure Bosnia hopes to emerge from its international isolation and to boost its economy. Premier Hadzipasic stressed that Bosnia would encourage the introduction of a unified railway system for the whole country.
Apart from purely industrial stretches the Bosnian railway system covers a total length of 1031 km. It was extensively damaged during the recent Balkan wars. Long waiting periods occur not only at the frontiers but also even during locomotive switching when travelling between the Federation and the partial Republika Srpska. Only now is a fast, modern and efficient railway system being introduced.
In the cargo sector the Bosnian railway system is used mainly by the chemicals industry in Tuzla, the iron-works in Zenica, the coal-mines in Zenica and Tuzla, the aluminium plants in Mostar, industry in the Greater Sarajevo area and the oil-dispatchers. Apart from purely domestic stretches rail connections for tourist traffic only exist to Zagreb and Budapest.
New trains from Great Britain are expected to arrive early in summer from Great Britain and will be put into service at the latest in December 2006. These new units will be deployed on the railway lines to Belgrade, Zagreb, Budapest and the Croat harbour of Ploce. For international tourist traffic modern carriages will be brought into service in 2010-11. In addition Bosnia is pressing for EU subsidies for rail improvements in south-east Europe (the so-called Vc Corridor). This will enable the harbour of Ploce to be connected by means of a modern railway infrastructure with Sarajevo, Osijek and Budapest.
Zagreb: Priority for rail improvements to Vienna
In Croatia too an improvement in the railway connection between Zagreb and Vienna is seen as being of great importance. The intention is to conclude the process of railway structure modernisation by 2007. The total amount of investment is put at HRK 15,300 million (approx. € 2,100 million). A reduction in the time taken to travel from Zagreb to Vienna from seven hours to six hours and 22 minutes has already been achieved. A further project envisages a link between Zagreb and Vienna passing through Hungary instead of, at present, through Slovenia. This would shorten the total length of the railway journey by 90 km or, to put it in another way, would reduce the time taken for the journey by 1½ hours. A total reduction of the journey-time to about 4 hours is the goal set for final completion of the stretch. Vienna would also be connected with the ports of Rijeka and Split. This matter was discussed a few months ago in connection with a planned railway link between Zagreb and Prague. Two routes are currently being analysed: Zagreb-Zidani Most-Graz-Vienna-Prague and Zagreb-Gyékényes-Vienna-Prague.
Slovenia also wants to make its railways competitive
In Ljubljana Dejan Podgorsek, press spokesman for Slovene Railways, confirmed that Slovenia is highly interested in installing a modern railway infrastructure in south-east Europe. Apart from a new link to Sarajevo freight-traffic should also be stepped up. By mid-March 2006 a new cost-analysis will be available for Rail Cargo between Sarajevo, Ljubljana and Villach. The overall aim is once again to make rail transport in south-east Europe attractive and competitive.
