Modernization and reconstruction of Velika Plana–Niš section

The main railway line Belgrade–Niš–Preševo – Macedonian border is an integral part of the European railway network (Corridor X) that is of great importance for domestic and international transport.

The lack of network and inadequate maintenance of railways over the last 35 years are the main reasons for the bottlenecks and poor quality of railway transport services in the Republic of Serbia. In order to mitigate the deterioration of the railway network and enable the operation of the railway infrastructure in these conditions, speed limits were introduced and resulted in reduced railway capacity.

The anticipated speeds are no longer achievable. Today, the average permitted speed on the main lines is down to 50 mph, and this theoretical value in reality corresponds to the fastest average speed of the train (according to the timetable), which is only 37 mph.

The section in on the Belgrade–Niš railway line.

The ultimate objective of developing the Serbian railway infrastructure is the integration of the most important international railway line of the pan-European Corridor X through the Republic of Serbia, which the Velika Plana–Niš section is part of. This will ensure interoperability and connectivity across all EU regions and at the same time contribute to socio-economic growth throughout Europe. The development of an integrated European railway network requires interoperability (technical compatibility) of the infrastructure, rolling stock, signalling, and other subsystems of the railway system, as well as simplified procedures for rolling stock authorisation through the EU railway network.

Over the years, national railways developed different technical specifications for their infrastructure. Different track widths, electrification standards, and signalling and safety systems make the movement of trains from one country to another difficult and costly. The EU has specific regulations to promote interoperability and overcome these differences.