Wednesday 5th May April 2010: Skopje - Kičevo - Skopje - Hani-i-Elezit - Prishtinë.
The line to Kičevo was not running when I last came to Macedonia in 2004. The line is interesting as it replaces a previous narrow-gauge route, the alignment of which can be seen in several places. There are several long tunnels and high viaducts. At Kičevo, the "preserved" narrow gauge train had been moved from where it was in 2004, in a patch of weeds & trees alongside the station building, to pole position on the station approach road. The border crossing into Kosovo at Hani-i-Elezit was also not open when I was last here in 2004, nor was the link from Fushë Kosovo to Prishtinë. I was quite pleased to get a "Republic of Kosovo" stamp in my passport at Hani-i-Elezit. I think that, in theory, I should have paid a fare for Hani-i-Elezit to Prishtinë, but the ticket checker seemed happy with my Balkan FlexiPass. The hotel, in the centre of Prishtinë, is less than a ten minute walk from the railway station.
See trip report for the full itinerary, traction details and notes.
The line to Kičevo was not running when I last came to Macedonia in 2004. The line is interesting as it replaces a previous narrow-gauge route, the alignment of which can be seen in several places. There are several long tunnels and high viaducts. At Kičevo, the "preserved" narrow gauge train had been moved from where it was in 2004, in a patch of weeds & trees alongside the station building, to pole position on the station approach road. The border crossing into Kosovo at Hani-i-Elezit was also not open when I was last here in 2004, nor was the link from Fushë Kosovo to Prishtinë. I was quite pleased to get a "Republic of Kosovo" stamp in my passport at Hani-i-Elezit. I think that, in theory, I should have paid a fare for Hani-i-Elezit to Prishtinë, but the ticket checker seemed happy with my Balkan FlexiPass. The hotel, in the centre of Prishtinë, is less than a ten minute walk from the railway station.
See trip report for the full itinerary, traction details and notes.
Skopje
Skopje - Kičevo
Kičevo
Kičevo
Skopje
Prishtinë