Chinese CRBC preparing cost estimate for new railway from Resnik to Velika Plana – New double-track route to be built too

The Chinese Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has signed a Memorandum that envisages an upgrade of the capacities on Belgrade-Nis-Preševo-North Macedonia state border railway sections. CRBC is currently preparing a cost estimate for the construction of the new Resnik-Klenje-Mali Pozarevac-Mala Krsna-Velika Plana double-track railway, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure told eKapija.

The first phase of the project entails the reconstruction and construction of the Resnik-Klenje-Mali Pozarevac double-track railway, 26 km long. The second phase of the project entails the reconstruction and construction of the double-track railway Mali Pozarevac-Velika Plana, 58 km long.

- The project has a total length of 84 km and entails the reconstruction of the existing railway line and the construction of new sections of the two-track railway, reconstruction and modernization of signal and safety and telecommunication devices and facilities, the reconstruction of the existing and electrification of new railway tracks, construction and reconstruction of facilities: tunnels, bridges and viaducts and other elements - says the ministry.

The general project of reconstruction and modernization of the "southern railway", according to the ministry, says that the route of the new double-track railway from Resnik to Velika Plana through Mali Pozarevac and Mala Krsna is preferable over the oldest route in Serbia, through Mladenovac and Ralja, as it bypasses the existing tunnel, the landslide and the inclination, where the value of the expansion due to the extension of the second track is high and the execution of the works is almost impossible under traffic.

- The future double-track railway is directly linked to the existing railway line towards Majdanpek and Smederevo, where it will have a direct connection with the new port on the Danube through the Mala Krsna station. The reconstruction should improve the element of the route for speeds up to 120 km/h (160 km/h where possible), allowed axle load of 225 kN and allowed load of 80 kN/m (category D4), with the installation of rails of the UIC 60 type – says the ministry.

The estimated value of the investment is EUR 340 million.

What about the facilities on the existing railway through Mladenovac?

When asked about the historical buildings on the existing railway line through Mladenovac - the Ripanj tunnel and the bridge in Parcani - the ministry says that "these facilities enable safe traffic with respect to the set limitations".

- Their technical overhaul will be considered in the following period, but only after the conditions for the execution of the works are created through the formation and reconstruction of alternative lines - they say.

Stalac-Djunis section

As for the second demanding section of the Belgrade-Niš railroad, from Stalac to Djunis, a Feasibility Study with the Preliminary Project and the Environmental Impact Assessment Study from the WBIF Fund was prepared, the ministry said. Changes are being made to the technical documentation in accordance with the comments from the members of the State Audit Committee, and their approval is expected by the end of the year. Financing of this project has not yet been provided. The plan is to apply for EIB loan funds and grants through the WBIF program, and the project value is about EUR 160 million.

According to the project, the construction of a completely new double-track railway for speeds up to 160 km/h is planned between Stalac and Djunis. The length of the section is 17.5 km. The project includes electrification of the railway line and installation of signal and safety and telecommunication devices. Also, this project entails the construction of five tunnels, a bridge, a railway station, as well as the denivelation of road and railway crossings.

I. Milovanovic

China Road and Bridge Corporation Serbia ogranak Beograd

CRBC Bejing

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

railway reconstruction

Resnik Velika Plana railway

Resnik Klenje Mali Požarevac Velika Plana railway

Stalać Đunis railway section

construction of double track railway Resnik Mala Krsna Velika Plana

railways in Serbia

Belgrade Niš railway

southern railway