Reconstruction of the railway system in Kosovo Author: Lieutenant Colonel Richard H. Brown Tsuyoshi Takayanagi Department of Civil Engineering Tokyo Institute of Technology

Contents History Fragmentation (FRY) Railway Network Damage Reconstruction Civilian Railway Organization Bringing the railway back to life Conclusions

History In 1980, The death of Tito connect to fragmentation of Yugoslavia Federation President Milosevic's rise take away Kosovo’s autonomy and forced policy of Serb initiatives Conflict occurred between Yugoslavia and Kosovo NATO force bombed Yugoslavia to stop conflict in Kosovo in 1999.

Fragmentation (FRY) Before 1991 2001 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia SERBIA Kosovo Republic of Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina Vojvodina Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina independent from FRY

Railway Network Kosovo’s local economy was depend on its industry (zinc, silver, gold) SERBIA Mitrovica Rail system was essential for many people who could not afford cars Pristina Pec Kosovo Polje There are routes north, south, east and west from Kosovo Polje, serving the provincial towns Mitrovica, such as Ferizaj, Podujevo and Pec. Ferizaj But this real system was controlled from Yugoslavia and suffer some limitations MACEDONIA

Railway Network Cut connection between the route from the south and the route to the west at Kosovo Polje by Serbia apparently intended by Serbs to frustrate movement of freight between Albanian towns in Kosovo

Damage Damage was mainly focused on stations and the signaling system in Albanian There was some damage to track system Heavy damage was inflicted by NATO’s bombing, such as bridges and tunnels Train was used to transfer Kosovo refugees

Reconstruction NATO force took a control of railway system Commandeered the only three remaining operative locomotives. The engineers set about repairing intermittent track damage The Italian engineers brought rapid-repair construction train

Civilian Railway Organization There are two problems in Kosovo’s rail system Kosovo’s rail system was mono-ethnic state (it became target of terror) Kosovo was to be responsible for the management of all public enterprises, but ownership of their facilities was retained by Yugoslavia. A present of multi-ethnic train was difficulty , but it was presented fortuitously The U.N. mission in Kosovo set up ‘Railways of Kosovo’ as a U.N. administered enterprise

Civilian Railway Organization The UNMIK designed a new organizational structure for the railways (it was not easy) The enforced lack of training and management experience suffered by Albanians　→ unfair employment The ethnic railway employment ratio 50% Serbs and 50% Albanians The ethnic population ratio 10% Serbs and 90% Albanians By 1999 Compromise plan to solve this problem was not agreed Enterprises had capitulated to majority momentum and held 　　no posts for those from minority groups.

Bringing the railway back to life The new railway organization was created with an objective of eventually taking over full By Reestablishment of railway, Kosovo has connection for military and industry Physical reconstruction is one thing, a workable organizational transition plan is quite It is very important to operate railway network effectively.

Conclusions Railways act as ‘connectors’ both physically and emotionally, in society. Reestablishment brings hope that divided communities may gradually heal their wounds. The civilian and the military had to work alongside each other and fully cooperate to be effective. Holistic strategic assessment has been important.

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