Skopje, 14 October 2025 (MIA) - Planning has begun for complete rehabilitation of the Skopje Railway Station and the Zelenikovo-Veles rail, several landslides and the Crna Reka bridge, an undertaking by public enterprise Macedonian Railways, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture.

Macedonian Railways-Infrastructure director Sinisha Ivanovski said the Railway Station rehabilitation should be completed in about 5-6 years, namely in parallel with the start of the Corridor X fast rail and the railway line to International Airport Skopje.

"If we finish the planning in a year, the project will either be funded through the national budget or a loan from the EBRD, EIB, commercial banks. It would not be a surprise it this is financed as part of the strategic partnership with the United Kingdom, since a lot of capital infrastructure projects are planned within this endeavor. The fast rail and the railway line to the Skopje International Airport will also be finished in about 5-6 years. It may seem abstract now, but we are working hard on all these projects in parallel," said Ivanovski.

The 1981 original project of the Railway Station by Kenzō Tange will be preserved while adding contemporary elements to it.

"The station's content will change, including pharmacies and other shops but annexes such as fast foods or other businesses will not be allowed. The building's pillars are now used as advertisement board for concerts, and this will be eliminated," noted Ivanovski.

Faculty of Civil Engineering Dean Josif Josifovski said their task would be to make a full rehabilitation of the Corridor X rail elements, strengthening of bridges, landslides, retaining walls.

"This launch is very important because we want to be part of the pan-European network, and this project will ensure the conditions and standards that are valid in all European countries," said Josifovski.

Faculty of Architecture Dean Aneta Hristova Popovska said a lot of work lies ahead.

"We plan to make this building a social hub and an open-air plateau for the citizens of Skopje. We will look into Tange's original design and carefully re-work some aspects so that we give the residents of Skopje something they have waited for a long time. The fast rail connection with Europe is an excellent thing, we owe this to the coming generations," underlined Popovska.

Photo: MIA