Montenegro has confirmed a €9.5 million Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) grant for railway safety improvements on the Podgorica-Nikšić corridor, covering level crossings, an underpass and road-access infrastructure. The Transport Ministry is formalising the agreement with World Bank representatives under the Safe and Sustainable Transport Programme, supplementing the second phase of the Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project.
Around €5.3 million will finance the modernisation of 22 level crossings, while €4.2 million is allocated for an underpass at Spuž and an alternative access road connecting the Sekulići and Ždrebaonik crossings. The Podgorica-Nikšić railway carries both passenger and freight traffic, making improvements to crossing protection relevant to rail operations and road safety. Montenegro’s railway network continues to require investment in ageing infrastructure, signalling, power systems, bridges, tunnels and stations. Sections of the Bar-Belgrade railway also require rehabilitation.
The railway system connects the Port of Bar with Podgorica and Serbia, supporting passenger transport, freight movements and regional logistics. The government has identified the port’s potential as a gateway to Serbia and other Western Balkan markets, increasing the importance of reliable rail connections.
The €9.5 million package focuses on specific operational and safety constraints rather than wider structural rehabilitation. Modernised crossing equipment is expected to improve signalling reliability, while the Spuž underpass will separate road and rail traffic at the location. The investment is being supported through a combination of EU grants, World Bank financing and other international financial institution programmes, which have become an important source of funding for Montenegro’s infrastructure development.
The wider transport investment pipeline also includes road, airport and railway projects, increasing requirements for procurement, project management and administrative capacity. Implementation will require progress through tendering, design, property issues and construction management before the planned safety improvements become operational.
