Orient/East-Med Corridor: Montenegro – Serbia R4 Rail Interconnection, Bar – Vrbnica Section

The extension of the Orient/East-Med Corridor into the Western Balkans along Route 4 is approximately 580 km long and runs from Vrsac (Serbia – Romania border) to Belgrade (Serbia) and then to Podgorica and Bar (Montenegro). Bar – Vrbnica (the latter at the Montenegro – Serbia border) is the most important section of the Montenegrin rail network, carrying about 20% of rail passengers and about 60% of the freight.  Rail plays an important role in the Montenegrin economy, accounting for almost 60% of all freight and 10% of passenger travel.

The Bar – Vrbnica route opened to traffic in 1976 and since then there has been no major overhaul of the signalling systems nor of the numerous bridges and tunnels located on this route. Montenegro has however commenced planning for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the entire railway track since the early 2000s, with assistance from the European Union, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The EU has provided technical assistance for project preparation and co-funds the investments under the Connectivity Agenda and Flagship 2 - Connecting North to South - of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans through the WBIF.