Makedonski Železnici

Macedonia
250px
Operation
National railway	Makedonski Železnici
Infrastructure company	Makedonski Železnici - Infrastruktura
Statistics
Passenger km	154.705.000
System length
Total	925 kilometres (575 mi)
Electrified	315 kilometres (196 mi)
Track gauge
Main	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification
Main	25 kV 50 Hz AC
Features
No. stations	117
Map Map of the Macedonian railway network

Makedonski Železnici (MŽ) (Македонски Железници, Macedonian Railways) is the public enterprise for railways in the Republic of Macedonia. Railway operations are run by Makedonski Železnici and the infrastructure maintained by Makedonski Železnici - Infrastruktura.

The Republic of Macedonia is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for the Republic of Macedonia is 65.

Macedonian Railways operates 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge gauge rail tracks in Macedonia and maintains 925 km (575 mi) of lines, 315 km (196 mi) of which are electrified with the 25 kV 50 Hz AC system.

Trains

Macedonian Railways operates a large number of train sets, which consist of passenger trains (Diesel and electric trains) and freight trains.

A contract for the purchase of 6 new passenger train sets, manufactured by China's CRRC Corporation at the Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works, was signed in 2014. The first train-set is expected to arrive in August 2015. Each train consists of 3 rail cars, and is designed to carry 200 passengers. They will be used on routes from Skopje to Bitola, Gevgelija, Tetovo, Kumanovo, and Veles. This is the first time Macedonia buys new passenger train sets since its independence, and the first time a Chinese EMU or DMU manufacturer enters the European market.

Overview

File:Kolodvor BT.JPG

The train station in Bitola

The first standard gauge line in the area, from Skopje to Thessaloniki was built in 1873 during Ottoman rule.

Macedonia has a well-developed railroad system. It is connected to Kosovo via Volkovo in the northwest, to Serbia via Tabanovci in the north and to Greece via Gevgelija in the southeast and via Kremenica in the southwest. Macedonia's main rail line between the Serbian and Greek borders, from Tabanovci to Gevgelija, is entirely electrified.

The main train station in Macedonia is Skopje.

All domestic lines are operated by Macedonian Railways, with links from Skopje to Tetovo, Gostivar and Kicevo in the west, to Volkovo in the northwest, to Kumanovo and Tabanovci in the north, to Sveti Nikole, Štip, and Kocani in the east, to Veles, Negotino and Gevgelija in the south - southeast and to Bogomila, Prilep and Bitola in the southwest.

According to a local journalists' report dated 2011, passenger service within the country is quite slow, and trains and stations are often poorly maintained. Nonetheless, the inexpensive rail service is well patronized, and on occasions trains are standing-room only.

Rolling stock

Electric Locomotives

Designation	Producer	Total units	Power output(kwh)	Wheel arrangement	Top speed	Building years	Notes	Image
MŽ 441	Rade Končar Zagreb	8	3800 kW	Bo'Bo'	120 km/h (140 km/h)	1969–1988		200px
MŽ 442	Rade Končar Zagreb	30	3800 kW	Bo'Bo'	120 km/h (140 km/h)	2001	Series 442 was obtained by restoring and thyristorizing of 3 former HŽ 1141 locomotives.
MŽ 461/462	Electroputere	3 / 2	5100 kW	Co'Co'	120 km/h	1972-1980/2008	Series 462 was obtained by restoring and thyristorizing of 2 MŽ 461 locomotives.

Diesel Locomotives

Designation	Producer	Total units	Type	Power output in kwh	Wheel arrangement	Top speed	Building years	Notes	Image
MŽ 642	Brissonneau et Lotz Đuro Đaković Slavonski Brod	8	Diesel electric shunter	606 kW	Bo'Bo'	80 km/h	1960-1964
MŽ 643	Brissonneau et Lotz Đuro Đaković Slavonski Brod	3	Diesel electric shunter	680 kW	Bo'Bo'	80 km/h	1967
MŽ 661	GM-EMD Đuro Đaković Slavonski Brod	23	Diesel electric	1454 kW	Co'Co'	114 km/h (124 km/h)	1960–1971		200px

Electric Multiple Units

Designation	Producer	Total units	Power output in kwh	Wheel arrangement	Top speed	Building years	Notes	Image
MŽ 412	Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca	3	1360 kW	Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2'+Bo'Bo'	130 km/h	1985–1986's		200px
MŽ 411	Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd.	1 (5 on order)			160 km/h	2015–2016's		200px

Diesel Multiple Units

Designation	Producer	Total units	Power output in kwh	Wheel arrangement	Top speed	Building years	Notes	Image
MŽ 712	MACOSA	19	2x 210 kW	B'B'+2'2'	120 km/h	1981-1986		200px

International connections and services

The train station in Prilep

The main north - south line from Niš in Serbia to the port of Thessaloniki in Greece on the Aegean Sea (Corridor X), passes through Kumanovo, Skopje, Zelenikovo, Veles, Negotino, Demir Kapija, Miravci and Gevgelija.

Intercity trains link Kumanovo, Skopje, Zelenikovo, Veles, Negotino (Kavadarci), Demir Kapija, Miravci (Valandovo) and Gevgelija (Bogdanci) with Serbian Railways and Greek railways.

Connections to Bulgarian State Railways are via Niš in Serbia and via Thessaloniki in Greece.

Intercity trains link Skopje with Kosovo Railways.

In 2010, Makedonski Železnici joined Cargo 10, a joint venture with other railways in the region.

Plans

Corridor VIII

Skopje train station

In the planning stage is a project to construct new rail links connecting to the existing east - west line (Beljakovci, Kumanovo, Skopje, Tetovo, Gostivar and Kičevo):

• An 89 km (55 mi) link in the East, from Kumanovo to the Bulgarian border, which would connect Macedonia to Varna (Bulgaria) and to the Black Sea.
• A 66 km (41 mi) link in the West, from Kičevo to the Albanian border, which would connect Macedonia to Durrës (Albania) and to the Adriatic Sea.

Corridor X

The Ministry of Transport and Communication has begun studies for the renewal and reconstruction of several section of the corridor X:

• Renewal and reconstruction of railway track on the 16 km (9.9 mi) section between Bitola and Kremenica as a part of the Xd branch of Corridor X
• Reconstruction of the 14 km (8.7 mi) railway section between Kumanovo and Deljadrovci
• Reconstruction of the 35 km (22 mi) railway section between Dračevo and Veles

External links

• Macedonian Railways
• Macedonian Railways - Infrastructure
• More information about the Macedonian Railways
• Macedonian passenger trains - photo gallery