Bombardier Transportation has started work on phase one of its first Serbian rail control project, which is the upgrade to the Serbian section of the Belgrade-Bar (Montenegro) Line. The project on the 77.6 km Resnik-Valjevo section is being delivered by the Bombardier Transportation (Signal) Ltd Joint Venture to Russian Railways (RZD) International, which is undertaking the upgrade on behalf of Serbian Railways (Infrastruktura železnice Srbije).
“We are pleased to be expanding into Serbia and contributing to the modernization of the country’s railway infrastructure, which will bring important safety enhancements and reduced travel times for passengers,” remarked Peter Cedervall, president, Rail Control Solutions Division, Bombardier Transportation. “In addition, this project is further recognition of our role as a trusted supplier across the 1520 mm gauge market and we look forward to working together with RZD International, as well as further building on our vehicle presence in Serbia for locomotive operation.”
The 287 km Serbian section of the Belgrade-Bar Line is the longest rail connection on the country’s network. The signaling project is the first step towards the complete modernization of the Serbian line in 40 years of operation. The new signaling and telecommunications products will increase safety and will support increased train speeds from 50 to 120 km/hr.
This is also the first project to start after the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June between RZD International and Bombardier Transportation for close cooperation on developing and implementing joint railway infrastructure projects in the international market. The companies plan to collaborate on technologies and share experience within railway infrastructure construction, signaling and project management.