Montenegro has opened an international procurement process to upgrade 22 railway level crossings on the Podgorica–Nikšić and Podgorica–Bar lines, with the contract covering the design, supply and installation of safety equipment.
The tender, issued by the Ministry of Transport under the Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project Phase 2, is financed by the World Bank and divided into two lots. The first covers 20 crossings on the Podgorica–Nikšić railway, while the second includes two crossings on the Podgorica–Bar line.
International contractors can submit bids for either lot or both, with discounts allowed for combined awards. The contract includes equipment and infrastructure works at locations where railway lines intersect with road traffic. The procurement follows the World Bank’s international competitive bidding rules. Technical and other non-price criteria carry a 30% weighting, while price accounts for the remaining 70% of the bid evaluation When the first-stage opening is also scheduled. The tender additionally requires disclosure of the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership.
The two railway corridors serve different transport functions. The Podgorica–Bar line connects the capital with Montenegro’s main commercial seaport, while the Podgorica–Nikšić route supports passenger and industrial transport in the central part of the country. The planned upgrades are intended to improve safety and operational reliability at rail-road intersections, as part of broader efforts to modernise Montenegro’s railway infrastructure.
The procurement provides an opportunity for companies specialising in railway signalling, electrical engineering, equipment manufacturing and infrastructure installation.
Neither the contract value nor the winning contractor has been announced. The investment amount will be determined through the procurement process and subsequent contract award. The successful bidder’s ownership information will also be published as part of the tender’s transparency requirements. Following the bidding deadline, submissions will undergo technical and financial evaluation before the contractor is selected.
