Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore

Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore AD Podgorica (ŽICG) is the railway infrastructure company of Montenegro. It is a joint-stock company whose majority shareholder is the state of Montenegro, holding 72% of the shares. The company is headquartered in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, and is a member of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER). ŽICG was established in 2008 when the formerly vertically integrated state railway company Željeznica Crne Gore (ŽCG) was split into separate entities in line with EU railway liberalization directives. While ŽICG took over the management and maintenance of railway infrastructure, Željeznički prevoz Crne Gore (ŽPCG) became responsible for passenger transport. In 2011, a further segmentation created Montecargo AD for rail freight and Održavanje željezničkih voznih sredstava (OŽVS) for rolling stock maintenance. All four companies share their registered office in Podgorica and are organizationally subordinate to the Directorate for Railways within the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs. ŽICG manages a network of 250.5 kilometers of standard-gauge railway lines, of which 223.8 kilometers are electrified with 25 kV, 50 Hz AC. The network consists of three main lines that converge in a star shape at Podgorica: the Belgrade–Bar line (167.4 km within Montenegro), the Nikšić–Podgorica line (56.2 km), and the Podgorica–Shkodër line. The Belgrade–Bar railway, opened in 1976, is the backbone of the Montenegrin network and includes the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, the highest railway viaduct in Europe, and the 6.2-kilometer Sozina Tunnel. The network also includes around 77 kilometers of station tracks, 121 tunnels, 120 bridges, nine galleries, and 440 culverts. The company's core activities include the maintenance, renewal, and development of railway infrastructure, the management of rail traffic, and the provision of access to the network for licensed railway undertakings. ŽICG has been involved in major rehabilitation projects, including the overhaul of the Belgrade–Bar line, with support from international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), which in January 2023 pledged EUR 76 million for the rehabilitation of the Bar–Podgorica–Vrbnica section. The company is also a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC) through Montenegro's associate membership.

The history of Montenegro's railway infrastructure management is closely tied to the broader history of rail transport in the country. The first railway line in Montenegro was the Antivari Railway, a 750 mm narrow-gauge line that opened in 1908 between Bar (then Antivari) on the Adriatic coast and Virpazar on Lake Skadar. It was closed in 1960. Two other narrow-gauge connections existed: one to Zelenika (opened 1901, closed 1968) and another from Trebinje (Bosnia and Herzegovina) to Nikšić (opened 1938), which was extended to Podgorica in 1948. After the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Montenegro's railways were part of the Yugoslav Railways (JŽ). Following Montenegro's independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, the joint-stock company Željeznica Crne Gore (ŽCG) was established as a state-owned enterprise, taking over assets and materials from the Serbian Railways (Železnice Srbije). The railway had suffered from chronic underfunding since the 1990s, leading to neglected infrastructure and safety problems. This culminated in the 2006 Bioče train disaster, when a passenger train derailed due to a brake defect, killing 47 people. In 2008, in line with EU directives on the liberalization of the European railway market, ŽCG was split into two separate companies: Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore (ŽICG) for railway infrastructure and Željeznički prevoz Crne Gore (ŽPCG) for passenger transport. In 2011, a further segmentation was decided at the 5th extraordinary shareholders' meeting, leading to the creation of Montecargo AD for rail freight and Održavanje željezničkih voznih sredstava (OŽVS) for rolling stock maintenance. The newly founded companies were partially privatized starting in 2014. ŽICG is a joint-stock company with the state holding a 72% majority stake. It manages and maintains the railway infrastructure of Montenegro. The network is 250.5 kilometers long, entirely standard gauge, with 223.8 kilometers electrified at 25 kV, 50 Hz AC. The network consists of three lines converging at Podgorica: the Belgrade–Bar line (167.4 km in Montenegro), the Nikšić–Podgorica line (56.2 km), and the Podgorica–Shkodër line. The Belgrade–Bar line, opened in 1976, is the backbone of the network and includes the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, the highest railway viaduct in Europe, and the 6.2 km Sozina Tunnel. About one third of the Montenegrin section runs through tunnels or on viaducts. The line suffered from underfunding in the 1990s, leading to the Bioče disaster in 2006. Efforts are underway to rehabilitate the line, with the northern part already overhauled. The European Investment Bank (EIB) pledged EUR 76 million in January 2023 for the rehabilitation of the Bar–Podgorica–Vrbnica section. By summer 2026, most works on the Vrbnica–Podgorica section were completed, while the participation procedure for the Golubovci–Bar section was still ongoing. The Nikšić–Podgorica line (56.2 km) was built in 1948 as a narrow-gauge line and converted to standard gauge in 1965. From 1992 it was used exclusively for freight, particularly for bauxite transport from the Nikšić mine to the Podgorica aluminum plant, with a speed limit of 30 km/h. Between 2006 and 2012, the line was fundamentally renewed and electrified, and passenger traffic resumed. Speeds now range from 75 to 100 km/h. In 2024, switch heaters were installed at Nikšić and Ostrog stations. ŽICG is a member of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER). Montenegro is an associate member of the International Union of Railways (UIC), with country code 62. The company is organizationally subordinate to the Directorate for Railways within the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs of Montenegro.

• 2024

  Switch heaters are installed at Nikšić and Ostrog stations.

• 2023

  The European Investment Bank pledges EUR 76 million for the rehabilitation of the Bar–Podgorica–Vrbnica section.

• 2014

  The newly founded companies are partially privatized.

• 2011

  Further segmentation creates Montecargo AD for rail freight and Održavanje željezničkih voznih sredstava (OŽVS) for rolling stock maintenance.

• 2008

  ŽCG is split into Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore (ŽICG) for infrastructure and Željeznički prevoz Crne Gore (ŽPCG) for passenger transport.

• 2006

  After Montenegro's independence, the state-owned company Željeznica Crne Gore (ŽCG) is founded from assets taken over from Serbian Railways.

• 2006

  The Bioče train disaster kills 47 people, highlighting the consequences of chronic underfunding.

• 1976

  Opening of the Belgrade–Bar railway, the backbone of the Montenegrin network, featuring the Mala Rijeka Viaduct and the Sozina Tunnel.

• 1965

  The Nikšić–Podgorica line is converted to standard gauge.

• 1948

  The Nikšić–Podgorica line is built as a narrow-gauge railway.

• 1908

  Opening of the Antivari Railway, the first railway line in Montenegro, a 750 mm narrow-gauge line between Bar and Virpazar.

State-owned national railway infrastructure manager, responsible for the safe and efficient operation of Montenegro's rail network and its integration into the European railway system.

• Railway infrastructure management

  Management and maintenance of the Montenegrin railway network, including tracks, tunnels, bridges, and electrification systems.

• Rail traffic management

  Coordination and control of rail traffic on the national network.

• Infrastructure access services

  Provision of access to the railway network for licensed railway undertakings.

1. 1Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore - AD Podgoricazicg.me
2. 2Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Schienenverkehr in Montenegro - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org