Skopje, 26 May 2025 (MIA) - Director of Infrastructure Macedonian Railways, Sinisha Ivanovski, said initial geological activities and field research for construction of the high-speed railway on Corridor 10 will begin in September, while mechanization in late autumn.

"The most ideal part for construction is next to the existing railway, there will certainly be a need for expropriation, but we will try to reduce it to a minimum, so as to avoid problems. On the other hand, what will be built next to the existing railway is a road that has already been mapped out and we are familiar with the problems on the ground. We will try to reduce the existing 235 kilometers to 200 and below 200 kilometers, wherever possible, the curves will be straightened," Ivanovski said in an interview with Sitel TV on Monday.

He announced that 30 percent of British components will be installed, which he noted is good because they have second best quality in the world. "I am sure that the Prime Minister will hold meetings with all chambers of commerce, cooperation will be offered and there will be room for involvement of every Macedonian company," Ivanovski pointed out.

The procurement of high-speed trains, he added, is the responsibility of Macedonian Railways Transport. "In five years from now we must have new trains, not only that, we will not be able to join the European Union with the current trains. We must procure trains and locomotives that meet the standards and that is included in the Government's plan, to procure new trains," said Ivanovski.

According to him, reconstruction and construction of the new railway will be completed in five years, and will be used for both passenger and freight traffic.

"An annual revenue of EUR 100-120 million is expected in freight traffic alone, because the ports in Athens, Thessaloniki, Alexandropoulos and Kavala are constantly recording an upward trend, the fastest route is through Macedonia, we should take advantage of our positioning," Ivanovski pointed out.

The number of stations that will serve as stops for high-speed passenger trains will be determined by the project, but Ivanovski said there will be as few as possible.

The goal, he added, is to have fast and efficient transport, which is why the Ministry of Transport, in cooperation with neighboring countries, will do everything possible to have only one stop.

As regards the construction of the railway on Corridor 8 to Bulgaria, he reiterated that despite the many requests he had sent to the management of the Bulgarian Railways for a meeting to define the technical solution, there has been no positive response. He said that in the last letter sent to him, it was indicated that in the future communication should be through the Embassy and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport.

After overcoming the problem with Bulgaria, he said the focus will be on the railway to Albania, using a joint grant from the EU for a technical solution, adding that there is correct communication.

Photo: MIA archive / VMRO-DPMNE