Makedonski Zeleznici
Encyclopedia
MŽ is the public enterprise for railway infrastructure in the Republic of Macedonia
.
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 gauge
(standard gauge
) rail tracks
in Macedonia and maintains 925 km (574.8 mi) of lines, 315 km (195.7 mi) of which are electrified
with a 25 kV 50 Hz AC
system.
to Thessaloniki
was built in 1873.
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.
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 Serbia
and Greece
.
Travel to Bulgaria
is via Niš in Serbia
and via Thessaloniki in Greece.
Intercity trains link Skopje with Kosovo
.
In 2010, Makedonski Železnici joined Cargo 10
, a joint venture with other railways in the region.
, Skopje
, Tetovo
, Gostivar
and Kicevo
):
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
The Republic of Macedonia is a member of the International Union of Railways
International Union of Railways
The UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
UIC Country Code
The UIC Country Code is a two digit number used to identify member countries of the International Union of Railways . The UIC has issued numbering systems for rolling stock and train stations that both contain the UIC Country Code. The values are defined in UIC leaflet 920-14.-Table of Codes:-...
for the Republic of Macedonia is 65.
Macedonian Railways operates gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
(standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
) rail tracks
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
in Macedonia and maintains 925 km (574.8 mi) of lines, 315 km (195.7 mi) of which are electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
with a 25 kV 50 Hz AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
system.
Overview
The first standard gauge line in the area, from SkopjeSkopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
was built in 1873.
Macedonia has a well-developed railroad system. It is connected to Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
via Volkovo in the northwest, to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
via Tabanovci in the north and to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
via Gevgelija
Gevgelija
Gevgelija is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the Republic of Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece , the point which links the motorway from Skopje and three other former Yugoslav capitals with...
in the southeast and via Kremenica
Kremenica
Kremenica is a settlement immediately to the southeast of Ig in central Slovenia. The entire Ig municipality is part of the traditional region of Inner Carniola. It is included in the Central Slovenia statistical region....
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
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
, Gostivar
Gostivar
Gostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...
and Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
in the west, to Volkovo in the northwest, to Kumanovo
Kumanovo
Kumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
and Tabanovci in the north, to Sveti Nikole
Sveti Nikole
Sveti Nikole is a town in the Republic of Macedonia. It is the seat of Sveti Nikole Municipality and a center of a plain called Ovče Pole , famous for sheep farming, lamb meat, and dairy products of all kinds. According to legend, the town was named after the church of Sveti Nikola, built in the...
, Štip
Štip
Štip is the largest urban agglomeration in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, serving as the economic, industrial, entertainment and educational focal point for the surrounding municipalities. As of the 2002 census, the Štip municipality alone had a population of about 47,796...
, and Kocani
Kocani
Kočani is a town away from Skopje, situated in the Eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, with population of 28 330. The town of Kočani is the seat of Kočani Municipality.-Geography and population:...
in the east, to Veles
Veles (city)
Veles is a city in the center of the Republic of Macedonia on the Vardar river. The city of Veles is the seat of Veles Municipality.-Name:The city's name was Vylosa in Ancient Greek and before the Balkan Wars, it was a township with the name Köprülü in the Üsküp sandjak, Ottoman empire for 600...
, Negotino
Negotino
Negotino is a town in the Republic of Macedonia. Its population is about 15,000. It is the seat of Negotino Municipality.-Geography:Negotino is situated on the right bank of the river Vardar. It is about above sea level. Negotino is in a vineyard region and the gates of the Tikves basin, known...
and Gevgelija in the south - southeast and to Bogomila
Bogomila
Bogomila is a village in Čaška Municipality in the central part of the Republic of Macedonia, close to the city of Veles. Bogomila is also the birth place of revolutionary Petar Poparsov. As of 2002 the population of the village was 476, most of whom ethnic Macedonians....
, Prilep
Prilep
Prilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
and Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
in the southwest.
International connections and services
The main north - south line from NišNiš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
to the port of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
on the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
(Corridor X), passes through Kumanovo, Skopje, Zelenikovo
Zelenikovo
Zelenikovo is a village in Republic of Macedonia. It is a seat of the Zelenikovo municipality....
, Veles, Negotino, Demir Kapija
Demir Kapija
Demir Kapija is a town in the Republic of Macedonia, located near the ominous limestone gates of the same name. It has 3,725 inhabitants. The town is the seat of Demir Kapija Municipality.-Etymology:...
, Miravci
Miravci
Miravci is a village in the Gevgelija region of south-eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in the Kožuf foothills west of the Vardar River....
and Gevgelija
Gevgelija
Gevgelija is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the Republic of Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece , the point which links the motorway from Skopje and three other former Yugoslav capitals with...
.
Intercity trains link Kumanovo, Skopje, Zelenikovo
Zelenikovo
Zelenikovo is a village in Republic of Macedonia. It is a seat of the Zelenikovo municipality....
, Veles, Negotino (Kavadarci
Kavadarci
Kavadarci is a town located in the Tikveš region of the Republic of Macedonia. Situated in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country, it is home to the largest winery in south-eastern Europe, named after the Tikveš plain. The town of Kavadarci is the seat of Kavadarci Municipality...
), Demir Kapija
Demir Kapija
Demir Kapija is a town in the Republic of Macedonia, located near the ominous limestone gates of the same name. It has 3,725 inhabitants. The town is the seat of Demir Kapija Municipality.-Etymology:...
, Miravci
Miravci
Miravci is a village in the Gevgelija region of south-eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in the Kožuf foothills west of the Vardar River....
(Valandovo
Valandovo
Valandovo is a city in southeastern Republic of Macedonia.The city is the seat of Valandovo Municipality.-Ancient History:Evidence of life can be found beginning in the 10th-7th centuries B.C. There is a settlement known as Mal Konstantinopol dating from Roman times, and the life in the Middle...
) and Gevgelija (Bogdanci
Bogdanci
Bogdanci is a small town in Republic of Macedonia, close to the border with Greece. It is located at around , and is the seat of Bogdanci Municipality.-Location:...
) with Serbia
Serbian Railways
Serbian Railways is the national railway carrier of Serbia. Its current network spans a distance of 4,347 km in length, with 32% electrified railways....
and Greece
Railways of Greece
thumb|right|Map of the current Greek railway network.The railways of Greece have a complex history which begin in 1869, with the completion of the then Athens & Piraeus Railway, with parts of it also becoming the second-oldest underground metro system in the world.Greece is a member of the...
.
Travel to Bulgaria
Bulgarian State Railways
The Bulgarian State Railways are Bulgaria's state railway company and the largest railway carrier in the country, established as an entity in 1885. The company's headquarters are located in the capital Sofia. Since the 1990s the BDZ has met serious competition from automotive transport...
is via Niš in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and via Thessaloniki in Greece.
Intercity trains link Skopje with Kosovo
Kosovo Railways
Kosovo Railways J.S.C is the railway carrier of Kosovo. It was originally formed as the UNMIK Railways from the lines of the former Yugoslav Railways that lie on Kosovo territory, and is owned by the state.- History :...
.
In 2010, Makedonski Železnici joined Cargo 10
Cargo 10
Cargo 10 is a railway organisation set up by the national railway companies of Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Subsequently, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina joined. The name is a reference to the pan-European "Corridor 10". Cargo 10 aims to speed up international rail cargo, and attract new...
, a joint venture with other railways in the region.
Corridor VIII
In the planning stage is a project to construct new rail links connecting to the existing east - west line (Beljakovci, KumanovoKumanovo
Kumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
, Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
, Gostivar
Gostivar
Gostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...
and Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
):
- A 89 km link in the East, from KumanovoKumanovoKumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
to the bulgarian border, which would connect Macedonia to VarnaVarnaVarna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
(BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) and to the Black SeaBlack SeaThe Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. - A 66 km link in the West, from KicevoKicevoKičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
to the albanian border, which would connect Macedonia to DurrësDurrësDurrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
(AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
) and to the Adriatic SeaAdriatic SeaThe Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
Corridor X
The Ministry of Transport and Communication has began studies for the renewal and reconstruction of several section of the corridor X:- Renewal and reconstruction of railway track on the 16 km section between BitolaBitolaBitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
and KremenicaKremenicaKremenica is a settlement immediately to the southeast of Ig in central Slovenia. The entire Ig municipality is part of the traditional region of Inner Carniola. It is included in the Central Slovenia statistical region....
as a part of the Xd branch of Corridor X - Reconstruction of the 14 km railway section between KumanovoKumanovoKumanovo is a city in the Republic of Macedonia and is the seat of Kumanovo Municipality which is the largest municipality in the country. Municipal institutions include a city council, mayor and other administrative bodies.-Name:...
and Deljadrovci - Reconstruction of the 35 km railway section between DracevoDracevoDračevo is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Population:According to the 1991 census, the population was 630, consisting of:* Croats – 582 * Serbs – 41...
and VelesVelesVeles may refer to:*Veles , Slavic deity*Veles , in the Republic of Macedonia*Veles municipality, in the Republic of Macedonia*Veles, singular of velites, a class of infantry in the early Roman Republic...