Skopje, 3 October 2024 (MIA) -- At least ten new flights will be taking off from the Skopje and Ohrid airports next year and the state will make significant investments in the national railway system, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski told the press Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference held to mark the government's first 100 days in power, Minister Nikoloski said some of the new flights would be operated by new airlines.

The rail investments, he said, would begin with a "city train" project, the first stage of which should be completed by October 2025.

"For me, railroads are the future," the transport minister said.

"The situation we inherited was a disaster," he said. "There were no working locomotives. There were zero locomotives. Only nine trains were lying on the Macedonian railroads. Now we have seven locomotives at our disposal and we are repairing the eighth."

Nikoloski pointed out that "a total of 31 freight trains passed over the Macedonian rails in August, and 70 freight trains last week alone."

"We are planning strong investment cycles next year as well as a reconstruction of the railroad between Tabanovce and Gevgelija," he said.

The transport minister said details on the ten new flights would be announced early next week. "This will mean 200,000 more passengers next year," he said. "There will be new airlines as well as new destinations."

The Ohrid Airport terminal would also be reconstructed, Nikolovski said. mr/