New section of railway in North Macedonia towards the Bulgarian border is now operational
The reconstruction of the 31 km railway route between Kumanovo and Beljakovce, in the north-eastern part of North Macedonia, has been completed and is now open to travellers. Trains will now be able to run at 100 km/h and stop at three new stations on the line.
These investments are part of the wider upgrade on rail Corridor VIII, a strategic east-west route of the Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean European Corridor, connecting Albania's Adriatic port of Durres to Bulgaria's Black Sea port of Varna via North Macedonia.
The EU provided a technical assistance grant of €1.5 million to support the detailed design and tender documentation, complementing the €76.6 million loan from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The inaugural train ride took place on 17 January 2025, with EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski, Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski, Railways Director Sinisha Ivanovski, and EBRD Head Fatih Türkmenoğlu on board.
Michalis Rokas, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia stated: "The reconstruction of the missing railway links on Corridor VIII, including the one towards Albania, is so important because connectivity facilitates trade, attracts investments, creates jobs, increases competitiveness, and it is very important for our collective security. Connectivity is a way to economic prosperity that is the ultimate goal for Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.”
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski emphasised the importance of the EU-supported Corridor VIII and Corridor X “because their intersection in our country offers a unique advantage in the region.”
“The new railway Kumanovo - Beljakovce is a significant step for the integration of Macedonia into regional transport networks and for improving the quality of life of its citizens.” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport Aleksandar Nikolovski.
This is the first section of the railway towards Bulgaria to be completed. The construction of the second phase from Beljakovce to Kriva Palanka is ongoing with an EU grant of €3 million through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, and a €114.8 million loan from EBRD. The start of works for the third phase is expected in the near future.
Corridor VIII is part of Flagship 1 – Connecting East to West in the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. It is part of the Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean European Corridor. The total estimated investment for almost 600 km of the railway line in Albania and North Macedonia is €2.1 bn, with €367.6 m EU grants approved through the WBIF.
More details on Rail Corridor VIII
