Why do Kosovars not use trains?

The small number of lines, lack of investments in passenger trains, and problems that have had with heating and lighting have led the number of travelers to Kosovo using the train as transport vehicles to constantly mark decline.

The limited number of lines has also affected the decline, as only 6 trains currently operate in Kosovo, which hold two lines of Peja and one for Elez's Han.

Kosovo Railways are managed by two companies, Infrakos, which handles infrastructure management and Trainkos, which handles transportation.

Recent officials say there is solid travel attendance on two operating lines.

Business Development Director Liridon Drenica for Kosovo has said that a time has faced many problems and delays of driving vehicles, which have influenced citizens to lose confidence in railway transport.

“We, last year, made some capital investments in passenger transport, meaning we bought passenger cars, 10 cars that meet the optimum conditions for transport. In the past, we have faced poor conditions that we have had heating problems, light problems, which have also caused a decline in the number of travelers. But last year we've made a capital investment, we've been supplied with 10 cars that meet the optimum conditions, today we have a stable heating in passenger cars, we have lighting. At the same time, a very special attribute that few are informed in Kosovo that passenger cars also offer internet. We have this project pilot, which is being monitored and final prepared for implementation of this project, which we believe the internet has been very stable and functional since next year”, he has indicated.

Despite the small number of lines, Drenica says they offer numerous benefits for those who choose to travel by train, where payment releases are received.

He has made it known that from paying the ticket, all categories removed from war, social cases, and ticketing also benefit students who pay 50 percent less. The highest price a traveler can pay in the country is 3 euros.

Infraco's executive chief, Agron Thaci, has said they are in procedures for starting investments in the existing railway network.

According to him, this company also manages train stations, which are currently in poor condition.

Thaci says stations are amortised and have not been invested for years.

The situation is not satisfying, because without investment you cannot produce any better situation, but we have kept them on our own terms, with our budget we've been trying to make sure we create space, waiting rooms, for example at the central station in Fushe Kosovo is not a very bad situation. But there's not much to use because there's not much transportation. If we talk about a few smaller stations, of course, the situation is much weaker, but let's say there are waiting spaces, it's not that there is, there's also an intervention for waiting, like at Pristina station, at Ferizaj station, Lipjan and others. But, however, because of the age of those objects, the amortisation of those objects, we've seen them being repaired, renovated and brought to standards that befit a railway station so that the citizen can take over the most quality service”, he stated.

In addition to transportation of travelers, the service also includes transportation of goods.

Business Development Director Liridon Drenica, among other things, has announced that they operate only for an international channel across Macedonia.

Kosovo has had another international channel that has been through northern Kosovo, but since its 2008 declaration of independence, this line has been closed.

We operate on the local market and the international market today. In the local market, we have 100 percent of the transport of xehes to the largest nikel company in the country of Ferronikel, and for this company we also arrange international transportation, in this case the import and export of final materials. In this area of transportation of goods, we have even shot it into the derivative industry, and various derivative companies bring the goods by train. But as I mentioned earlier, perhaps the main problem we face is access to the international market only to an international channel, such as the channel across Macedonia, which for businesses coming from Europe is a problem because the transport line is extended. In this case, the cost of transport” increases, he has declared.

Trainkos implements two regular lines for Macedonia, where two trains operate daily for transportation of goods.

Despite the problems facing Kosovo railways, there are still travelers using the train today.

Citizens who had chosen to travel from Peja to Pristina say they have chosen the train because of the security it offers.

Student Muje Krasniqi says that with the latest investments made, the train trip has become very attractive.

Maybe security is above all, the road might take a little longer, but you're safer. The new train that is now done is much better than the old train, and the Wifi. Except on the road, even in the tunnels, it's a whole different pleasure, but even if you're very friendly with me, if you're able to get along very well, he said.

Bedri Gashi also says the train offers him more comfort than other means of transportation.

“E used the train because it's comfortable, it's a little cheaper than the bus and it's more comfortable, better, more likely to be more, all”, he said.

Railway transport is valued by connoisseurs as one of the best road transport lines, with priority such as greater security compared with other means, cheaper prices, and smaller environmental pollution.