Skopje, 19 May 2025 (MIA) – The Strategic Partnership Agreement with the United Kingdom put serious accent on investments in infrastructure, mainly railway investments, including the Corridor 10 high-speed rail from Tabanovce to Gevgelija, which is expected to cement the country as the best, quickest and most profitable transit for freight rail transport from the Greek ports to European destinations.

Sinisha Ivanovski, director of Infrastructure Macedonian Railways, said Monday that the existing rail will undergo full reconstruction to increase speed over 160 km/h for passenger transport and up to 120 km/h for freight transport. A new rail will be built alongside the existing one, which will have two tracks, while the curves will be straightened as much as possible and the length of the railway line will be reduced.

“It is expected to be completed in five years’ time from the start of construction works, which are expected to launch some 9 months after the signing of the agreement. The contractor will both design and construct the railway line. First, the new route will be built, which will be in parallel to the existing one, and then the existing railway line from Tabanovce to Gevgelija will be reconstructed. The railway line connecting the railway station in Skopje with the airport in Petrovec will be also reconstructed,” Ivanovski told a news conference today.

This autumn, he announced, works will begin to reconstruct the section of the railway line from Drachevo to Ilinden as well as the section from Zelenikovo to Skopje, which will be part of public city transportation.

The Skopje Railway Station will also be reconstructed.

“The planned activities for full modernization and construction of a new railway will put back Macedonia on the railway map. Macedonia has excellent infrastructure, favourable geographical and strategic location. Freight rail transport could prove to be one of the main driving forces of economic development,” said Ivanovski.

According to him, the 230-km Corridor 10 in the country is along river Vardar. The current railway is a single-track that includes both freight and passenger transport. Put into service in 1873, it has since undergone modifications, upgrades and repairs.