EBRD approves Serbian railway loan

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a €95 million loan to support improvements to Serbia's rail infrastructure.

National rail company Serbian Railways will use the funds to rehabilitate sections of Corridor X, the main north-south route running through Serbia and also the country's key regional link with its neighbours.

Corridor X handles over 50% of all passenger and freight rail traffic in Serbia, according to the EBRD, but much of the track is in a poor state, resulting in speed restrictions - trains must operate at speeds less than 60kmph on over half of the network.

The EBRD loan will finance the modernisation of a 14km section of Corridor X from Belgrade Central Station through Rakovica to Resnik, as well as the renewal of 50km of track along other key sections of this Corridor.