The Macedonian Railways fleet is enhanced with 107 new freight wagons that were promoted Tuesday in Skopje. The remaining 43 cars are expected to be shipped by Slovakia’s ZOS Trnava by the end of the month, thus wrapping up the EUR 13.2 million-purchase.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who attended the promotion together with Deputy PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski, said the purchase of these wagons was part of the government’s strategy to overhaul and rehabilitate the Macedonian railway system.

The first out of six passenger cars, worth nearly EUR 25 million, are set to arrive in July, he stated.

“In addition to new trains, Macedonia will also get new railway stations. The railway station in Skopje is expected to be completely reconstructed this summer. Despite the Skopje station, works will be launched to modernize the railway stations in Veles, Prilep, Bitola, Gevgelija, Bogomila, Caska, Tabanovce, Demir Kapija, Gradsko and Negotino,” the PM noted while mentioning that the construction of railroad tracks towards Bulgaria were under way and that plans were being made to expand the railroad network towards Albania.

The procurement of new freight wagons came as a result of requests made by businessmen, according to Finance Minister Stavreski.

“The procurement of new freight wagons was one of the requests of the business community and it confirms how the government has been handling business initiatives in the past nine years. Whenever there are sound requests, we find means and ways to include them in the budgets and to help the business community,” Stavreski urged.

The railways investment cycle, he added, at the moment is EUR 281 million, including EUR 145 million in the second stage of the reconstruction of railroad tracks to Bulgaria and EUR 50 million are envisaged for the procurement of new train cars.

“It is a serious investment cycle for which finances have been never singled out before. It will contribute to creating a more competitive economy, because with train cars like these, with modern transportation, we will lower the costs of Macedonian companies while also improving the transportation of goods and passengers,” the Deputy PM said.

Macedonian Railways with this new investment will be established internationally as a company prepared to offer swift and safe transport, according to Transport Minister Janakieski.

“Macedonia Railways today is writing a new chapter in its history. For the first time in several decades, the company is renewing its fleet. We have managed to procure 150 freight wagons in an effort to modernize the company,” he concluded.