Planning contract awarded for modernisation of Serbian rail link to Bosnia

SERBIA: Italy’s FS Engineering, Serbian-Hungarian engineering firm Project Biro Utiber and Hungary’s Utiber Közúti Beruházó have been commissioned to preparing preliminary designs for upgrading the Ruma – Šabac – Donja Borina line to the border with Bosnia & Herzegovina border.

The Ministry of Construction, Transport & Infrastructure said the 110 km line built between 1901 and 1978 no longer meets modern requirements. It is single-track and non-electrified, and speeds are limited to 50–80 km/h.

The aims of the project include raising the line speed to 120 km/h and the axleload to 22.5 tonnes, along with 25 kV 50 Hz electrification, resignalling, level crossing safety enhancements and installing digital communications.

Planning and design work

The contract signed in mid-May covers 23 months of planning and design work for an extensive rebuilding of the line, including inspection of the 17 bridges, 71 culverts, 113 level crossings and four tunnels to asses what is required.

FS Engineering said the contract would strengthen its presence in Serbia, where it has been active since the early 2000s and has operated through local subsidiary Infrastructure Engineering Services since 2012.

Serbian Railway Sector Modernisation Programme

The work forms part of the three-phase Serbian Railway Sector Modernisation Programme for 2021–29, which is being managed by the ministry with the national rail infrastructure manager providing technical support.

The first phase is being financed through loans totalling €102m from the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development and Agence Française de Développement.

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