UNMIK/PR/1470
PRISTINA – PDSRSG Larry Rossin today officially opened the Pristina-Skopje passenger railway service, together with Deputy Prime Minister Adem Salihaj and the Macedonian Minister of Transport Xhemali Mehazij, at a ceremony held in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje Railway Station. Following an exchange of letters and cutting of the ribbon, the dignitaries boarded the inaugural train to Skopje.
In his address, PDSRSG Rossin congratulated the political leadership of both sides for recognizing the importance of the project. “The re-opening of the Pristina-Skopje railway service is one important step further in the direction of achieving a fully integrated railway system in Europe,” said the PDSRSG.
Deputy PM Salihaj said: “This opening should mark not only a technical event, but also symbolizes an enhanced relationship between Kosovo and FYR Macedonia.” Minister Mehazij emphasized that the opening of the railway line will open a new page of cooperation. He said: “The Macedonian government will support this joint project, which will contribute to the economic development of both places.”
The PDSRSG noted that “Both the railways in FYR Macedonia and Kosovo are in a transformation period where EU transportation rules – on railway organizations and on free access to the railway tracks – are to be implemented.” He stressed the significance of the timing of today’s opening, only a few days after the European Council decided to grant candidate country status to FYR Macedonia. “This EC decision gives a broader perspective to this event today,” the PDSRSG said.
“131 years ago the railway line from Hani I Elezit/ Đeneral Janković to Mitrovicë/Mitrovica was inaugurated,” Mr. Rossin said, “Many years have passed since that day, many things have changed, historical events have reshaped this region more than once, and we also know that many people of Kosovo have recent bad memories associated with this particular train station. But one thing has remained the same: the wish of the people of the region to travel freely and to meet with each other.”
Cross-border train connections between Kosovo and FYR Macedonia had been out of service since the conflict in 1999. “By inaugurating this international passenger railway service line today, we are re-establishing a crucial link of transportation between Skopje and Pristina,” said PDSRSG Rossin.
The train journey along the approximately 100 km stretch between Pristina and Skopje takes about two and a half hours. The trains will have three coaches to accommodate around 200 passengers and will shuttle between the cities twice a day, with a one-way-ticket for an adult costing €4. The morning shuttle will depart Pristina at 06:24 hrs, arriving in Skopje at 09:01 hrs and return leaving Skopje at 09:38 hrs to arrive in Pristina at 12:12 hrs. In the afternoon, the train will leave Pristina at 13:08 hrs, arriving in Skopje at 15:38 hrs and depart Skopje at 16:13 hrs, arriving in Pristina at 18:46 hrs.