The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Railways (Željeznice FBiH) confirmed that following successful test runs and technical inspections, the entity's Ministry of Spatial Planning had issued an operational permit for the railway.
"This means all conditions have been met for the resumption of freight and passenger services on the Sarajevo-Čapljina route, extending onwards to Ploče," the railway operator said.
It announced that freight services would resume from 30 January, while passenger services on the Sarajevo-Čapljina-Ploče route are scheduled to restart on 10 February.
Federation of BiH Transport and Communications Minister Andrijana Katić confirmed the news to Hina, calling it a crucial development for the economy.
"This is a significant step forward for rail transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing the smooth movement of passengers and goods. The restoration of this railway is vital for the country's economy, which has suffered major losses," Katić stated.
The damaged section near Jablanica was rebuilt thanks to a donation from the Turkish construction company Cengiz Insaat, which offered to carry out the work free of charge after it became clear that local authorities were unable to do so due to Bosnia's complex decision-making and procurement processes.
Željeznice FBiH confirmed that during the four-month disruption, it suffered losses amounting to €11.5 million.
Several major companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina that rely on raw material supplies via the Ploče port had previously warned that the railway suspension was causing them significant losses on a daily basis, as road transport by lorry could not meet their logistical needs.
Each year, more than two million tonnes of goods are transported by freight trains from Ploče to customers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.