A high priority project of Kosovo is the upgrade of the railway route 10. The project is part of the Western Balkans core railway network, an extension of the Trans-European Transport Networks.The whole existing line has a total length of 252 km and connects Kraljevo located in Srbija, Fushe Kosova in Kosovo country with Goce Petrov in FYR Macedonia. The part of the future improved transport links, which is 148km long, is divided into three sections: the southern section Fushë Kosovë -FYR Macedonian border, the central section Fushë Kosovë-Mitrovicë and the northern section Mitrovicë -Serbian border. This project will recover the connectivity between Kosovo's railway network with Europe's Corridor VIII network in FYR Macedonia in the south and Corridor X to the Serbian border in the north.
 

Fig.1 Railway route 10

Rail Route 10 sustained significant damage during the period 1990-1999, some of which has been partially repaired. The level of regular maintenance was reduced to a minimum, resulting in the current inadequate condition. Maximum speeds have been reduced to 60-70km/h and in some specific cases 20km/h due to safety reasons. The Government of Kosovo has been spoken for a rail reform programme to bring the sector into compliance with European Union directives. The public railway company was converted into a joint stock company Kosovo Railways JSC and operated as an integrated railway. In 2011 it was split into an infrastructure company INFRAKOS and a train operating company TRAINKOS.

This is the largest EBRD transaction in Kosovo
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is providing a €39.9 million loan to Kosovo for the modernization of its international rail route 10 on Kosovo – Mitrovice section. The loan is expected to boost regional integration and support economic development in Kosovo. The project will also be supported by the European Investment Bank, investment grants provided by the EU, and grants from the Western Balkans Joint.

INFRAKOS is currently looking for a consultant which will prepare the project documentation for the rehabilitation in accordance with European Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI), AGC, AGTC and the SEECP Agreement. The consultant shall prepare the Main Design for the reconstruction and electrification of the single track line as well as any documents needed for building permit procedures. INFRAKOS also needs a support with whom will prepare the tender documents as well as identify the environmental and social issues related to the project and ensure that the project is developed in accordance with the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Performance Requirements. The duration of the assignment will be around 6 months.