Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on Sunday surveyed ongoing activities for the reconstruction of the Veles Railway Station, slated for completion by the end of 2015. In addition to the Veles Railway Station, those in Prilep, Bogomila, Tabanovce, Gevgelija, Bitola and Cashka are also being overhauled. The main railway station in the capital Skopje is also reconstructed.

“Ten railway stations along Corridor X are being reconstructed besides those in Bitola, Prilep, Casha, Bogomila, Veles, etc. Train rides now are much cheaper than bus rides and we expect interest to be increased in railroad transportation once the new trains are procured,” Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said noting that the railway stations were reconstructed for the first time in 42 years.

Joining Gruevski on his visit to Veles, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski said next week he would meet EBRD officials to discuss prospects to provide more funds for the fleet renewal project.

“This is a serious long-term investment cycle estimated at EUR 600 million for a period of four years,” he stated.

The antiquated rolling stock of the Macedonian Railways is being modernized for the first time in 40 years as railway stations across the country are reconstructed after 42 years, said Minister of Transport and Communications Vlado Misajlovski.

80% of the reconstruction works along Corridor X is completed. The project on railway connection with Albania is expected to be completed in a year, whereas the first 10 kilometers of the railroad tracks installed towards Bulgaria will be finished by the end of the year.

The reconstruction from Tabanovce in the north to Gevgelija in the south will be fully completed by March 2016 after which trains will be able to reach a speed of 120 km per hour.

The electric multiple unit train, promoted earlier today in Skopje, will be put into service for passengers in January 2016.

PM Gruevski, Deputy Premier Zoran Stavreski, Transport Minister Vlado Misajlovski and Chinese Ambassador Wen Zhenshun took a promotional train ride from Skopje to Veles.