Construction of a high-speed railway line directly connecting the New Railway Station with Petrovec International Airport is expected to begin next spring in Skopje.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikolloski announced that the journey from the city center to the airport terminal will take just 8 to 11 minutes.

The initiative is part of a plan to modernize the railway system and transform public transportation in the capital.

Authorities are planning to expand the network after the first urban train line becomes operational. A new railway stop is expected to be built near the 11 Oktomvri Baraka neighborhood, in the Municipality of Kisela Voda. The plan also includes bicycle facilities and coordinating the schedules with JSP public transport lines.

The plan also includes the construction of two additional railway lines.

The second line will run along the route New Railway Station – Autokomanda – Maxhari – Cento – Ilinden – Agino Sello.

The third line will connect Volkovo – Gjorce Petrov – North Skopje – Butel – New Railway Station.

Nikolloski said citizens had responded positively to the urban train from its first days of operation. According to him, the use of electric trains will significantly reduce travel time from the outskirts to the city center.

At the same time, the Ministry of Transport is taking steps to renew the railway fleet.

Through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), five new electric locomotives are being secured, which will be used to electrify freight transport.

Meanwhile, in cooperation with the World Bank, the procedure for purchasing 4 to 6 new modern passenger trains is being finalized. The trains will comply with European standards and will have dedicated spaces for bicycles and pets.

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A 10-kilometer section considered the most complex part of the Kërçovë-Ohër motorway is expected to open to traffic in the coming months. The motorway is scheduled to be fully completed and operational by May next year.

The announcement was made today by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikolloski during an appearance on Kanal 5 television’s “Vesti Plus” program. He explained that, due to the large number of inherited problems, most of the Ministry’s resources have been focused on this project.

According to Nikolloski, this 10-kilometer stretch includes galleries, bridges, viaducts and a tunnel that will be the longest in the country. One tunnel tube is 2 kilometers long, while the other is 2 kilometers and 100 meters long. He expects this section to open in the coming months, allowing the Ohër-Kërçovë motorway to move gradually toward completion.

The minister described the Kërçovë-Ohër motorway as the main challenge facing the Ministry. He said that around 80 percent of its time and energy is spent on the Ohër-Kërçovë section, while 20 percent is devoted to all other projects. According to him, the numerous inherited problems require daily attention, but the results have already begun to show.

Speaking about capital investment in general, Nikolloski said that transport and construction are the main drivers of economic development. As evidence, he cited the construction sector’s double-digit growth in every quarter.

More than 1,200 construction sites are currently operating in municipalities alone for projects financed by the Government. Nikolloski added that six motorways are being built simultaneously in the country, something that, according to him, has never happened before in the country’s history. In addition, intensive work is under way on Railway Corridor 8, preparations are being made to begin work on Railway Corridor 10, and investments are being carried out at airports. He said that all these projects provide a comprehensive picture of strong capital investment, which makes a significant contribution to economic growth.

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He expressed satisfaction with the progress so far on this interstate road linking Macedonia with Kosovo. According to him, an inter-ministerial working group within the Public Enterprise for State Roads is drafting the project documentation, a task entrusted to the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The less difficult part of the route has already been completed, although the project as a whole remains highly complex. Nikolloski explained that data have been requested from the Faculty of Civil Engineering for the tunnel section that will cross the border, as the aim is to build a joint tunnel. Information has also been requested from the Kosovar side, because the gallery will start on our territory and emerge in Kosovo. Once this data is received, the faculty will begin designing the tunnel solution.

The minister also announced the establishment of an interstate commission with experts from both countries to advance this initiative. This body includes officials from the Ministry of Transport, the Public Enterprise for State Roads, and the Government of Kosovo. During recent talks with his counterpart in Thessaloniki, about three weeks ago, the importance of the project was discussed extensively and joint next steps were set. Nikolloski stressed that work is progressing at a satisfactory pace, but reminded that the difficult terrain in the Shar Mountain area makes this an extremely costly and complex undertaking.

In today’s parliamentary session, he also announced the start of a new highway that will stretch from Bukojçani to Kërçovë, connecting with the existing Ohrid–Kërçovë route. This initiative, according to the minister, has secured financial support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Before lawmakers, Nikolloski also recalled that the agreement for the construction of the Skopje–Blace highway has been signed.

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