December 10, 2018 - Are you coming to Montenegro by train? Of course, this is only possible from Belgrade. It is the only international railway connection to Montenegro, which does not have a well-developed railway network on its territory. However, here is some useful information if you’re traveling by train to Montenegro.
You can travel by train from Podgorica to Bar and Niksic, as well as to Bijelo Polje within the regular railway traffic line with Belgrade. Apart from these cities, the railway station also exists in Sutomore.
The railway line Belgrade - Bar was built in 1976 and is one of the most difficult in Europe for exploitation. On the part of the strip through Montenegro, daily works are carried out to ensure a safer and faster movement of trains and increase the quality of service. The Montenegrin railway infrastructure, with its 825 employees, regulates traffic and maintains the railway, railway lines, contact networks, and power plant facilities. Most of the workshops, depots, and facilities for wagons and locomotives services are the same age as the railway, so for investments in vehicle maintenance, Montenegro engages companies from Serbia, Romania, Croatia, and Slovenia. The wagons and locomotives at the disposal of Montenegrin Railways' belong to the category of older vehicles. That sai, rail transport is not the best option for traveling through Montenegro.
Rail transport is significantly cheaper than buses or air transport. However, be armed with patience and bring some good books. Especially for the winter months, there are usually multiple delays on this line, primarily due to the scarcity of resources and possible weather conditions.
Still, the situation on our tracks has slightly improved. According to the reports available at the Montenegrin Railways website, the delays are all the better and are not as long-lasting. Also, some significant investments, supported by European Funds, are being announced to improve the railway infrastructure.
In cooperation with NGO "European Youth Center," Montenegro's Railway Transport has become one of the partners of the "European Youth Card" project (EYCA). This cooperation implies that young people (students) who are beneficiaries of the European Youth Card when traveling on Montenegro's lines will have the opportunity of a 50% discount on a regular ticket price. The European Youth Card is a benefit card for young people that allow young people to use over 100 cuts in Montenegro and over 70,000 discounts across Europe. Seat reservations in 1st and 2nd-grade classes for international trains is mandatory and is €3.
In the commercial sense, Montenegro's Railway Transport offers a whole range of privileges that passengers can use: for groups of 6 and more passengers, they are allowed discount ticket prices by 30%, for groups of 12 and more passengers it is 50%. Children 6 to 14 years old pay 50% of the discounted adult fare. Children up to the age of 6 travel free of charge if traveling with someone with a ticket. For groups of more than 20 passengers, use of the sleeping and tasting room is possible with a 20% discount.
In addition to this, passengers can also use other travel options at discounted rates in international rail traffic. Passengers could opt for the BALKAN FLEXIPASS package, which offers the possibility of traveling by rail to Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at very favorable prices.
Unfortunately, you cannot get to your tickets in Montenegro online. It is necessary that you go to one of the branches of Montenegrin Railways. The only agency offering ticket booking services for rail transport is in Ulcinj.
POINTS OF SALE FOR TRAIN TICKETS:
RAILWAY STATION TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR INFORMATIONS
Podgorica + 38220 / 441-209; 441-003
Sutomore + 38230 / 301-692
Bar + 38230 / 301-619; 301-624
Bijelo Polje + 38250 / 478-560
Nikšić + 38269 / 363-582; + 38240 / 211-912
