The Nikšić–Podgorica railway is a

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in Track (rail transport), tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the ...

connecting

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = ...

's capital

Podgorica Podgorica (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Подгорица, ; Literal translation, lit. 'under the hill') is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city was formerly known as Titograd ...

and the country's second largest city,

Nikšić Nikšić ( cnr, Никшић, italic=no, sr-cyrl, Никшић, italic=no; ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 56,970 located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot ...

. The line connects to the

Belgrade–Bar railway The Belgrade–Bar railway ( sr, Пруга Београд–Бар, Pruga Beograd–Bar) is a railway connecting the Serbian capital of Belgrade with the town of Bar, a major seaport in Montenegro. Overview The Belgrade–Bar railway is a sta ...

and the

Podgorica–Shkodër railway The Podgorica–Shkodër railway is a railway connecting Albania and Montenegro, used for freight-purposes only. It is Albania's only international rail link. Although initially built between 1984–1985, it fell into disuse in 1991 and later ...

at Podgorica. It is operated by ŽICG.

Overview

Nikšić–Podgorica is a

standard-gauge railway A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), International gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge and European gauge in Europe, and SGR in Ea ...

. It passes through 12 tunnels of total length of , and across nine bridges (overall length of ), mostly following the

Bjelopavlići plain Bjelopavlići ( cyrl, Бјелопавлићи; sq, Palabardhi), ) is a historical tribe (pleme) of Albanian origin and a valley in the Brda region of Montenegro, around the city of Danilovgrad. Geography The ''Bjelopavlići'' valley (also kn ...

along its corridor. The speeds on this line are between . The line has five stations (Nikšić, Ostrog,

Danilovgrad Danilovgrad ( cnr, Даниловград) is a town in central Montenegro. It has a population of 6,852 (2011 census). It is situated in the Danilovgrad Municipality which lies along the main route between Montenegro's two largest cities, Podgori ...

Spuž Spuž ( cnr, Спуж) is a small town seated near Zeta river, within the municipality of Danilovgrad in the central Montenegrin region. Overview It is located halfway between Podgorica and Danilovgrad, in the Bjelopavlići valley. It was part o ...

and Podgorica) and seven halts.

History

The line was built as a

narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller struc ...

railway in 1948. It was connected to the preexisting ''Nikšić–

Bileća Bileća ( sr-cyrl, Билећа) is a town and municipality located in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, the town has a population of 7,476 inhabitants, while the municipality has 10,807 inhabitants. History ...

line''. In 1965, the line was upgraded to standard gauge. The extension to Bileća was decommissioned in 1976. The railway has primarily been used for transport of

bauxite Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with a relatively high aluminium content. It is the world's main source of aluminium and gallium. Bauxite consists mostly of the aluminium minerals gibbsite (Al(OH)3), boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)) and diaspore (α-AlO(O ...

ore from the Nikšić mine to the

Podgorica Aluminium Plant The Aluminium Plant Podgorica ( cnr, Комбинат aлуминијума Подгорица, Kombinat aluminijuma Podgorica, abbr. KAP), also known latterly as Uniprom KAP, is a Montenegrin aluminium smelter company located in Podgorica, Mon ...

. Chronic lack of funds for maintenance resulted in operating speeds being reduced to , and end of passenger service in 1992. Passenger service was reintroduced in 2012. In 2006, thorough reconstruction and

electrification Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histo ...

of the line begun, with consortium of

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus' Places *Czech, ...

companies (OHL ŽS "Brno", AŽD and EŽ) undertaking the construction works. The reconstruction was scheduled to be completed in 2009, but was completed only in 2012, due to funding problems. The entire project had a cost close to €72 million. The reconstructed railway was officially opened on 1 October 2012, with operating speeds increased to range, and passenger service reintroduced. Three

CAF Civity The CAF Civity is a platform of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Available as both diesel, electric and battery-electric multiple unit, the ''Civi ...

EMUs ordered by Railways of Montenegro specifically to serve this railway were scheduled to arrive in Montenegro in July 2013.

References

External links

Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore
(in Montenegrin) {{DEFAULTSORT:Niksic-Podgorica railway Railway lines in Montenegro Railway lines opened in 1947 1947 establishments in Montenegro 760 mm gauge railways

Overview

History

See also

References

External links