| Železnici na Republika Severna Makedonija | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
 ŽRSM trains | |||||
| Operation | |||||
| National railway | Železnici na Republika Severna Makedonija | ||||
| Infrastructure company | ŽRSM Infrastruktura | ||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Passenger km | 154.705.000 | ||||
| System length | |||||
| Total | 925 km (575 mi) | ||||
| Electrified | 315 km (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 | ||||
| |||||
Železnici na Republika Severna Makedonija (ŽRSM;Macedonian:Железници на Република Северна Македонија (ЖРСМ), "Railways of the Republic of North Macedonia") was the public enterprise for railways inNorth Macedonia. In 2007 it was split into railway operation companyŽRSM Transport and the infrastructure companyŽRSM Infrastruktura.[1]
North Macedonia is a member of theInternational Union of Railways (UIC). TheUIC Country Code for North Macedonia is 65.
ŽRSM operates1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gaugerail tracks in North Macedonia and maintains 925 km (575 mi) of lines, 315 km (196 mi) of which areelectrified with the25 kV 50 Hz AC system.
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ŽRSM Transport 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'sCRRC Corporation at theZhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works, was signed in 2014. The first train-set arrived 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 toBitola,Gevgelija,Kičevo,Kumanovo, andVeles.[2] This is the first time North Macedonia has bought new passenger trains since its independence,[2] and the first time a ChineseEMU or DMU manufacturer has entered the European market.[3]
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The first standard gauge line in the area, fromSkopje toThessaloniki was built in 1873 duringOttoman rule.
North Macedonia has a well-developed railroad system. It is connected toKosovo viaVolkovo in the northwest, toSerbia viaTabanovci in the north and toGreece viaGevgelija in the southeast and viaKremenica in the southwest. North Macedonia's main rail line between the Serbian and Greek borders, from Tabanovci to Gevgelija, is entirely electrified.
The railway company has its headquarters in the capital Skopje. The original city railway station was partially destroyed in the 1963 earthquake and now houses theMuseum of the City of Skopje. The new principal railway station forms the upper level of the integratedTransportation Center Skopje.
All domestic lines are operated by ŽRSM, with links from Skopje toTetovo,Gostivar andKicevo in the west, to Volkovo in the northwest, toKumanovo and Tabanovci in the north, toSveti Nikole,Štip, andKocani in the east, toVeles,Negotino and Gevgelija in the south - southeast and toBogomila,Prilep andBitola 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.[4]
In April 2023, commemorating 150 year since the arrival of the first train in today's North Macedonia, the Museum of Macedonian Railways was opened in Skopje.[5]
| 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 | | |
| MŽ 442 | Rade Končar Zagreb | 3 | 3800 kW | Bo'Bo' | 120 km/h (140 km/h) | 2001 | Series 442 was obtained by restoring and thyristorizing of 3 formerHŽ 1141 locomotives. | |
| MŽ 443 | CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive | 4 | 4800 kW | Bo'Bo' | 120 km/h | 2019 | ||
| MŽ 461 | Electroputere | 3 | 5100 kW | Co'Co' | 120 km/h | 1972–1980 |  | |
| MŽ 462 | Rade Končar Zagreb | 2 | 5100 kW | Co'Co' | 120 km/h | 2008 | Series 462 was obtained by restoring and thyristorizing of 2MŽ 461 locomotives. |
| Designation | Producer | Total units | Type | Power output inkwh | Wheel arrangement | Top speed | Building years | 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 | .jpg) |
| Designation | Producer | Total units | Power output inkwh | Wheel arrangement | Top speed | Building years | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MŽ 412 | Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca | 3 | 1360 kW | Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2'+Bo'Bo' | 130 km/h | 1985–1986's | .jpg) |
| MŽ 411 | Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. | 2 | Bo'2'+2'Bo' | 160 km/h | 2015–2016's | |
| Designation | Producer | Total units | Power output inkwh | Wheel arrangement | Top speed | Building years | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MŽ 712 | MACOSA | 20 | 2x 210 kW | B'B'+2'2'+2'2' | 120 km/h | 1981–1986 | .jpg) |
| MŽ 711 | Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. | 4 | Bo'2'+2'Bo' | 160 km/h | 2015–2016 |  |
The main north–south line fromNiš inSerbia to the port ofThessaloniki inGreece on theAegean Sea (Corridor X), passes through Kumanovo, Skopje,Zelenikovo, Veles, Negotino,Demir Kapija,Miravci andGevgelija.
Intercity trains link Kumanovo, Skopje,Zelenikovo, Veles, Negotino (Kavadarci),Demir Kapija,Miravci (Valandovo) and Gevgelija (Bogdanci) withSerbian Railways andGreek railways.
Connections toBulgarian State Railways are via Niš in Serbia and via Thessaloniki in Greece.
Intercity trains fromKosovo Railways link Skopje with Pristina.
In 2010, Makedonski Železnici joinedCargo 10, a joint venture with other railways in the region.[6]
In July 2022 a contract was signed involving modernisation and construction works on the:
A proposal from 2020 for:
The Ministry of Transport and Communication has begun studies for the renewal and reconstruction of several section of the corridor X:
High speed railway:
