The agreements are worth $US 150m and include reconstruction of 65km of lines as well as the supply of 27 additional class 711 DMUs. Specifically, upgrades will be carried out on the Sopot Kosmajski – Kovačevac (18km), Mala Krsna – Velika Plana (29km), and Ruma – Golubinci (18km) sections of the corridor, which will increase line speeds to 120km/h up from 30km/h at present, and are worth $US 50m.

Transmashholding subsidiary, Metrovagonmash will supply the DMUs in a $US 100m agreement. The trains will have a maximum speed of 120km/h and are designed specifically for 1435mm-gauge infrastructure. The agreement also includes supply of spare parts, and the first train is due to be delivered in 15 months.

The contract was signed in Belgrade last week by RZD International general director Mr Sergei Pavlov and ZS heads of directorates and transport infrastructure Mr Negoslav Theofilović and Mr Goran Maksić in the presence of Russian president Mr Vladimir Putin and Serbian president Mr Tomislav Nikolić.