The European Union is providing a €175.6 million financing package for the reconstruction of the 39 km Bar–Golubovci railway line, a strategic section of Rail Route 4 on the extended TEN-T Core Network. The line forms part of the corridor linking Belgrade with the Port of Bar, connecting Montenegro and the Western Balkans with Central Europe.
The financing combines a €63 million loan from the European Investment Bank with a €112.6 million EU grant provided via the Western Balkans Investment Framework. Additional funding includes a €50 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and €5.2 million from the Montenegrin government. Total project costs are estimated at €230.8 million.
Once completed, the upgrade is expected to increase line speeds and improve operational reliability, safety and capacity. The modernised section is designed to handle up to 1.3 million passengers and 1.85 million tonnes of freight per year, supporting both passenger and freight traffic on one of Montenegro’s most important rail corridors.
The project is also intended to strengthen multimodal transport links and improve access between rail and the port of Bar. By shifting traffic from road to rail, the investment is expected to contribute to lower emissions and improved climate resilience across the corridor.
Project preparation was supported by the European Commission and the EIB’s JASPERS advisory programme, ensuring compliance with EU environmental, social and technical standards. The Bar–Golubovci upgrade forms part of broader efforts to align Montenegro’s rail infrastructure with EU requirements and to integrate the country more closely into the European transport network.
