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CURRENCY: Euro TIME ZONE: GMT+1 STATE CARRIER: ZPCG
Getting to Montenegro...
Getting to Montenegro...
ARRIVING BY AIR
ARRIVING BY AIR
Montenegro has two international airports. Podgorica, the capital, and Tivat in the South West of the country. Tivat has no rail connection, and requires an intercity coach to reach the railway.
Podgorica Airport is served by the mainline route through the country at Aerodrom station. Taxi drivers hang around the terminal and tell people that the trains do not run. This is false information. Quoting the timetable with the next departures from the station will usually make them go away.
The trains are not regular and are often delayed, as this route is a single track mainline, meaning trains can only pass each other at some stations. Freight and passenger services share this same track, meaning delays are inevitable, some patience is required.
Fares and schedule information is shown on the ZPCG website, however tickets are not yet available to buy online. Aerodrom station has no ticket office, tickets must be purchased on board the train from the conductor.
ARRIVING BY TRAIN
ARRIVING BY TRAIN
Currently, Montenegro has only one functioning international rail route which is the Belgrade to Bar railway, meaning the only rail connection is with next door neighbour Serbia.
Two trains a day in each direction run this route, the day train named 'Tara' and the night train named 'Lovcen'.
The day train requires a change between the Montenegrin train and the Serbian train at Bijelo Polje, while border control takes place. For more information on the International sleeper train, the Lovcen, please see the dedicated page for this route.
To know before you go:
To know before you go:
Smoking is illegal on trains in Montenegro, however this rule is poorly enforced and smoking is commonplace on board. The law is generally overlooked by rail staff.
It is socially acceptable to smoke on trains in the vestibule area by the doors, if the carriage door will close behind you. I do not recommend this, however you will see locals partaking in this.
Locomotive hauled services
Locomotive hauled services
Class 461
Class 461
All locomotive hauled passenger trains are operated with Class 461s operated by ZPCG. Diagrams can be unreliable, as these workings can be swapped for units at short notice. Expect some trains on the Podgorica - Bar route to run locomotive hauled, and most services to the north of the country at Bijelo Polje to be hauled.
Locomotive hauled trains do not run on the branch to Niksic.
The only locomotive hauled services that can be guaranteed are international trains to and from Serbia.
Multiple Units
Multiple Units
RVR Class 412
RVR Class 412
Four carriage trains built by RVR for Yugoslav Railways, these trains are the mainstay of the Podgorica - Bar service. Originally delivered in the late 80s, these units were nicknamed 'Gorbačov' in reference to the Soviet president at the time. Six units were originally based at Titograd depot, however only three sets remain operational.
These units have been refurbished inside, albeit some time ago, and are fairly pleasant to travel on. Seating is comfortable and arranged in 2+2 configuration.
CAF Class 6111
CAF Class 6111
Entering service in 2013, these three units were ordered from CAF for the electrification of the line from Podgorica to Niksic. They are formed of three coaches, and are largely the same as any other new European multiple unit inside.
These trains do occasionally stray onto other routes and can also work across the entire mainline from Bijelo Polje to Bar.
Tickets
Tickets
FOR ALL
FOR ALL
Bar-Belgrade sleeper reservation costs;
3EUR each for a seat
8EUR for a bed in a 6 berth couchette
12EUR for a bed in a 4 berth couchette
16EUR for a bed in a 3 berth sleeper cabin
24EUR for a bed in a 2 berth sleeper cabin
48EUR for a private sleeping compartment (Only sold if you hold a valid first class ticket/Interrail)
FOR RAIL STAFF
FOR RAIL STAFF
Montenegro is a member of FIP, and as a result FIP coupons for ZPCG are accepted nationwide. If you also hold a Serbian coupon, you can use these on the Belgrade-Bar sleeper service without a problem. You can book a berth at the ticket office at both Bar and Podgorica without issues.
ATOC FIP holders receive a 50% discount on tickets
I personally have had only one unusual encounter with a conductor, where I was told that FIP coupons were only valid if you were travelling over 20 kilometres. I have never heard of this rule, have never encountered it before, and no documentation exists to prove this is a rule. This was the case on only one train on which I travelled, all other conductors had no issue accepting the coupon as normal.
FOR PUBLIC
FOR PUBLIC
WITH INTERRAIL
Travel in Montenegro will be plain sailing and unhindered. Reservations are only required on the sleeper service to Belgrade if you are travelling north of Podgorica.
WITHOUT INTERRAIL
Fares in Montenegro are very low. A single from Bar in the south to Bijelo Polje in the very north of the country is 7.20EUR.
You can buy tickets on board the train, however if you board at a station with a ticket office with the intention of buying on board, you will have to pay a 1EUR supplement.
YOU CANNOT BUY ANY RAIL TICKETS ONLINE
Rail Map
Rail Map
As there is no official map for the Montenegrin rail network, I have created my own in TfL style, developed with railmapgen.github.io. You can create your own if you wish to do so.
Link to download a full size version of this map is here.
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