Earlier last week, authorities in Slovakia signed the agreement for the beginning of the modernization of the so-called Zilina railway junction. The contract was signed and spearheaded by the Railways of the Slovak Republic (ŽSR), in association with national and local authorities, and it will be carried out by the Pod Dubňom Association.
Essential for railway travel in Slovakia and crucial for Zilina’s growth
The project for the modernization entails the reconstruction of the already existing railway line, increasing the calibre of technical equipment, installing modern and more progressive elements, which will improve and bolster its technical parameters, its safety and all its indicators across the board. The entirety of the project is about 14 kilometres long in the east-west direction and another 2.3 kilometres in the north-south axis.
The launch of the project was welcomed by the Mayor of Zilina Peter Fiabáne who stated that “The city of Žilina welcomes this significant investment. At the same time, we perceive that this will have an impact on the functioning of the city for several years, as it is a huge project. On the other hand, it is not just about the reconstruction of railways or platforms, but this project includes a number of other investments. Underpasses, as well as bicycle-related infrastructure will be reconstructed, which will significantly help the city. At the same time, in the future, we have questions about the reconstruction of the railway station or other design and the use of pre-station space. “
The project will be financed from two Eurofund sources, namely the Integrated Infrastructure Operational Program (OPII) and the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) at a total of around 323 million euros. The project will be divided into two sections, each financed through different sources.
Section 1 – Žilina (outside) – Varín, will be financed through the CEF Instrument and the state budget for an amount of nearly 69 million euros. Section 2, meanwhile, encompassing the Zilina railway station itself and the construction of infrastructure to its north and west will be financed from the OPII in the first phase. In the second phase, the Railways of the Slovak Republic will apply for money from the Operational Program Slovakia within the programming period 2021 – 2027.
The Zilina juncture project will prove to be not only essential for railway travel across Slovakia, but it will also give the city an opportunity to create jobs and growth that will at least partially offset the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: TheMayor.EU
