EBRD funds €42m upgrade for Serbia’s international rail services
Srbijavoz intends to introduce the new sleeping cars on the existing Belgrade-Bar route, which connects Serbia and Montenegro.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has authorised a sovereign-guaranteed loan of up to €42m ($48.6m) to Serbia’s state-owned passenger rail operator, Srbijavoz, to finance the purchase of 12 new railway sleeping cars for international routes.
Ljubiša Pejičić, acting director general of Srbijavoz, signed the loan agreement.
The guarantee agreement received signatures from Siniša Mali, first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Jelena Čeperković, EBRD Deputy Head for Serbia.
Currently, Srbijavoz operates over 20 passenger routes serving urban, national, and international travellers.
The new equipment will replace existing rolling stock that no longer meets European Union (EU) requirements and is not permitted to operate in EU member states.
Srbijavoz plans to deploy the new sleeping cars on the current Belgrade-Bar route linking Serbia and Montenegro.