Regional Broadband Infrastructure Development

Orient/East-Med Corridor: General Rehabilitation of Route 10 Phase 2, Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje - Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Railway Section

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Project Financing

EIB Loan € 37,554,000
EBRD Loan € 8,600,000
WBIF Grant WB14-KOS-TRA-02 € 1,000,000
WBIF Grant WB-IG01-KOS-TRA-01 € 17,585,600
EBRD External Grant € 250,000
National Contribution Own Contribution € 2,400,000
Total € 67,389,600
Total Grants € 18,585,600
Total Loans € 46,154,000

Project Description

The Orient/East-Med Corridor crosses Kosovo from the north to the south on Route 10, from the border with North Macedonia to the one with Serbia, and constitutes Kosovo’s connection to the wider region by rail. The entire track is in poor condition, with serious structural constraints that limit traffic to 60km/h. Route 10 is part of the extension of the Core Network Corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) into the Western Balkans. It has a total length of 256 km long, out of which 149 km are in Kosovo.

The route in Kosovo will be rehabilitated in three phases:

  • Phase 1: Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – border with North Macedonia;
  • Phase 2: Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – Mitrovicë/Mitrovica;
  • Phase 3: Mitrovicë/Mitrovica – border with Serbia.

This investment project concerns Phase 2 and will enable the rehabilitation of the Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – Mitrovicë/Mitrovica rail section and associated (five) railway stations.

The project received WBIF support on several occasions, including for Phase 2: 

  • A €17.2 million investment grant from the EU under the Connectivity Agenda in 2016 to cover 49% of the investment costs for Phase 2;  
  • €1 million grant from the WBIF Bilateral Donors for the preparation of design and tender documents; 
  • €.0.5 million grant from the EU for the feasibility study for the rehabilitation of Route 10. 

The feasibility study, preliminary design and environmental impact assessment for Phase 2 have been completed. Additional financial support for detailed technical project design and tender preparation was granted by the WBIF in 2015 and these technical assistance activities are currently ongoing.

More details on the project can be found in the project summary included on this page.  

Project image © Kosovo Railways Infrastructure (Infrakos).

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 

Links

€17.6 Million Grant Agreement Signed for 2016 Connectivity Agenda Project in Kosovo

Rehabilitation of Rail Route 10 in Kosovo (Video)

Results and Benefits

  • 35 km of railway track and 5 railway stations upgraded to modern, TENT standards;
  • Increase in passenger and freight travel speed to 100 km/h as well as freight axle load to 22.5 tonnes;
  • Safe and efficient rail transport for approximately 50% of the population of Kosovo;
  • More than 160 new jobs created during construction as well as operation and maintenance periods;
  • Passenger and cargo rail capacity improved by more than 1.2 million people and respectively 1.2 million tonnes;
  • Improved trade flows with countries in the region and thus a positive impact on the broader economy of Kosovo.
  • Countries: Kosovo*
  • Code: PRJ-KOS-TRA-004
  • Sector: Transport
  • Lead IFI: EBRD
  • Status: Implementation
  • Beneficiary:
Project financing split

Partner Financial Organisations

Western Balkans Partners