Rail transport in Montenegro
The Željeznica Crne Gore ( ZCG ) ( German Railway of Montenegro ) is the national railway company of Montenegro and emerged after independence from the Jugoslovenske Železnice. Main fields of activity ZCG are the passenger and freight transport, maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock, maintenance and technical oversight of infrastructure, stations and equipment. The total network consists of 250 km length, the completely in standard gauge ( 1435 mm) is created. 219 km of the network are electrified with AC 25kV/50Hz. The network has 58 km of underground lines in 121 tunnels. Furthermore, the network includes 120 bridges, 9 galleries and 440 underpasses.
Route network
The Montenegrin proportion of railway line Belgrade - Bar serves as the main route of the national rail system. 1979, it was opened as a technical masterpiece, since with the Mala Rijeka viaduct has the then world's highest railway viaduct and the 6.2 km long Sozina tunnel. Approximately one third of Montenegrin share this track form tunnels or viaducts. Until the completion of electrification by Nikšić this track was was also the only fully electrified railway in Montenegro.
The railway company suffered in the 1990s to more clearly under-funding, which led to the neglect of infrastructure and operational safety problems. This culminated in the train wreck of Bioče in 2006, when at a train derailment due to a brake defect in a rail car train 47 passengers died. Currently, efforts are being made by the World Bank, in particular, to rehabilitate the railways sustainable.
The railway line Podgorica - Nikšić ( 56.6 km ) Built in 1948 as a narrow gauge line and 1965 extended to standard gauge. From 1992 it was used only for freight trains which transported mainly from the bauxite mine in Niksic to Podgorica aluminum smelter. The line was electrified by 2012 completely renovated and taken on October 1, 2012 and again in operation, passenger services were resumed.
The railway line Podgorica - Shkodër, which continues to Tirana was, for a time reserved exclusively for the carriage of goods. There are plans to reconstruct this route and take the passengers back, is becoming increasingly important for Montenegro as Albania.
Narrow gauge lines
Previously there was a narrow gauge connection of Nikšić about Trebinje (Bosnia and Herzegovina) to railway Sarajevo- Mostar - Ploce. Consideration is to reestablish the connection.
Border crossing points
Montenegro has a rail link with Serbia (see Serbian Railways ). The connection with Albania is only for freight transport in operation. Currently there are no connections with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
In March 2008, an agreement between the governments and railway companies of the two countries was signed after the route of Nikšić after Čapljina to be rebuilt, but in standard gauge and with a designed for higher speeds routing.
Rolling stock
Made up of car trains on the main line of bar to Serbian border are drawn from six-axle locomotives built in Romania the former JŽ - 461 series. Also EMUs Series 412 On this route for regional traffic next car trains used, which were built in the Soviet Union. In shunting and on the non-electrified lines from Podgorica to Nikšić and the Albanian border several diesel locomotives are used, mostly originating from General Motors EMD G16.
The car fleet is composed of originating from the predecessor JŽ, as well as from other countries purchased the car. To run the daily express train Beograd - Bar former German long-distance carriages (then half 1st and 2nd class ), but which operate as either a second or first class at the ZCG. With its air-conditioning and the closed drainage system they are probably the most modern long-distance carriages throughout the Balkan region. In addition, the Montenegrin railways operate various freight cars of various genres.
Montenegrin railways in fiction
James Bond travels to Casino Royale (2006 ) with the Railways of Montenegro. It was shown a Pendolino tilting train of the Czech Railways.