Repercussions from the ongoing refugee crisis, at least as far as Greece is concerned, have increasingly taken a toll on transports in northern Greece, with the major rail line leading north out of the country to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) and highways blocked intermittenly by Mideast refugees and other third country migrants.
The continued of interruption of rail service through the Idomeni border post has cost the Greek rail operator Trainose two million euros in damages so far, with some 200 rail cars stranded.
Shipping companies trying to transport goods from Greece to the rest of Europe are now using a route via Bulgaria, which costs up to 25 percent more. Moreover, the line to Bulgaria can handle only half the traffic that the more direct line through fYRoM can handle. The opposite direction, north to south, is also getting backed up, with reports stating that 22 rail cars remain stranded in Nis, Serbia, due to the interruption of service in Greece.
Vessels are also reportedly avoiding the port of Thessaloniki and instead sailing to Durres, Albania, for instance, as cargos for Serbia, Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are then shipped by truck from there, instead of by rail. At least two freighters set course for Turkish ports over the weekend after remaining in Thessaloniki for eight days without being able to off load.
