After my recent rail experiences on the thoroughly crap operations in Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania, the operations of Montenegro Railways, or at least their passenger arm ZPCG, were a breath of fresh air. Functioning websites, a recognisable ticketing system, reasonable frequency of service and some actual signals!
The system is centred on the capital Podgorica, with a line north to Niksic, west to Bar on the Adriatic coast, and east to Bijelo Polje towards the Serbian border. In addition there is a day and night train beyond Bijelo Polje to Belgrade.
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| The ubiquitous Soviet built EP31 dating from the 1980s is used on the Bijelo Polje to Bar services, via Podgorica. These are four car EMUs known as Class 412 which were inherited from Yugoslav Railways when the country broke up. |
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| A trio of newer CAF Civity EMUs dating from 2013 are generally used in the Niksic corridor. |
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| Romanian built Class 461 locoomotives dating from the 1970s are in charge of the through trains from Belgrade. This one was running spectacularly late from Belgrade to Bar hauling three coaches including sleeping accommodation. |
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| The country's timetable fits on one poster. There were some track engineering works which necessitated the cancellation of some of the longer distance services, cunningly covered with strips of paper. |
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| This class 412 took us on a trip to Bar..... |
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| Unfortunately like a lot of eastern Europe the platforms at Podgorica are just a few inches off the ground, resulting in a large step in to the train. |
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| The level of graffiti hides a recently modernised unit, at least as far as passenger accommodation is concerned. New seats and good heating: the services used did carry decent loads. |
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| The interior work has included ceiling and lighting. |
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| There is also a freight business in Montenegro, with marshalling yards at both Podgorica and Bar. |
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| Locally built variations on a 1970s EMD locomotive, also inherited from Yugoslav Railways, are used for shunting. |
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| And finally a Montecargo Class 461 at Bar. |