Serbian railway to Vršac to reach 160 km/h; environmental assessment underway

Serbia is moving forward with plans to significantly upgrade its railway infrastructure, focusing on the corridor connecting Belgrade to the Romanian border. The Spatial Planning and Urbanism Agency has initiated the process for a strategic environmental impact assessment, a crucial step before finalizing the spatial plan for the railway line.

The project encompasses the route from Belgrade Centar (Prokop) to Pančevački most, Pančevo glavna, Vršac, and the state border with Romania. The goal is to enhance connectivity and efficiency, allowing trains to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h on certain sections. This modernization is part of a broader effort to integrate Serbia's rail network with European transport corridors, specifically Pan-European transport corridors X and VII, linking them to Corridor IV in Romania.

The environmental assessment will scrutinize potential impacts on water, air, land, biodiversity, and nature within the designated areas. The scope includes the territories of Belgrade, Pančevo, Vršac, and the municipality of Alibunar. The agency has a 12-month timeframe to complete this assessment, which will inform the final spatial plan.

This initiative builds upon previous efforts, including a public call for consultancy services issued by the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure. The project is slated for financing through a €102 million loan secured from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Currently, the section between Belgrade Centar and Pančevo glavna is double-tracked, while the line from Pančevo glavna to the Romanian border is single-tracked, with existing speeds ranging from 80 to 120 km/h. A project to construct a second track on the Pančevački most - Pančevačka glavna section was completed in 2017.