Petrovaradin - Beocin Railroad to Become Green Route – Plan Includes Footpath and Bicycle Lane, Restaurants, Hotel Garni, Cultural Center… (PHOTO)

The Petrovaradin - Beocin railroad, which is out of use, should be transformed into a green route. The investor is the Provincial Secretariat for Economy and Tourism, and the AG-UNS architectural-construction institute from Novi Sad was in charge of the preparation of the urban project.

The project envisages the development and marking of a route for cyclists and pedestrians with a length of 16.95 km. The green route consists of a cycling lane with a width of 2.5 m, meant for two-way bicycle traffic, along which a footpath, 1.6 m wide, is to be developed.

The route is designed as part of the landscaped green areas, connecting Petrovaradin, Sremska Kamenica, Ledinci, Rakovac and Beocin, with the possibility of extension to Sremski Karlovci. The extension to Sremski Karlovci could be realized by the route of the old Novi Sad - Belgrade railroad, which is free, as well as an extension by a scaffolding across the Danube, that is, to Futog and the connection with the international cycling route EuroVelo 6. Also, connecting with bicycle lanes through Fruska Gora is possible.

Along the entire route, the plan is to keep and reconstruct the old rail signalization, wood poles at the stations, rail barrier gates, rail barrier gate mechanisms, accompanying rail equipment etc. as an authentic relic of the initial purpose of the route.

The green route is planned as a multifunctional route with green surfaces, various features at station facilities, a space for art installations, a museum, lookouts, a hotel, restaurants, an outdoor gym, children’s playgrounds etc.

The visitors and those looking for recreation, in addition to practicing sports and using the route on a daily basis for going to and from work or school, can also get information about the tourist attractions in the wider context of said location, such as the Petrovaradin Fortress, Fruska Gora monasteries, archaeological sites etc. that they can be directed to.

By keeping the elements of the former rail transport infrastructure in certain parts to the greatest extent possible, the basic characteristics of the industrial landscape design would be kept, whereas the disassembled materials would be used for fences, tile paving, or street furniture and equipment.

The forming of ambient units in the locations of the station facilities which are to be kept, streams, rest areas and spaces for the purposes of engaging various groups of users, is planned on the route.

The route of the green path, in its entire length, will be independent from other types of traffic, which will provide safety for the users of the green route, and the usage of the route itself will be comfortable and interesting, because the users will be animated by additional features. For this reason, the construction of a new overpass (footbridge) across the IIA-grade state road no. 119 (state border with Croatia, border crossing Nestin – Beocin - Sremska Kamenica) is planned.

The urban design physically separates the bicycle lane from the footpath.

Along the route of the green path, a total of 19 spaces meant for rest and relaxation are planned. One of these locations will feature a water fountain – at the beginning of the route near Livadska Street in Petrovaradin (a rest with an information point at the beginning of the green route). The others will be located on the rail stations Sremska Kamenica, Ledinci and Beocin.

All the rests are equipped with features that provide the conditions for a shorter stay, a rest from bicycle riding, or walking, as well as for potential small servicing interventions on bicycles.

For the lighting of the green route, the plan is to set up at least 436 new vandal-proof poles, at about 40 m from each other and 1 m from the pedestrian-cycling lane. The poles are six meters tall. LED lights of up to 50 W are to be mounted on the poles.

For the lighting of the parking spaces, rests and other side features within the green route, at least 60 new vandal-proof poles are to be installed, 6-8 m tall, in line with the photometric calculations.

The project also plans intelligent lighting control through the implementation of the DALI system. The system consists of a controller, the DALI interface, a movement sensor (inside the light) and a user app. The system enables supervision, the displaying of the status, errors and savings in electrical energy for every light, as well as the possibility of controlling the lighting depending on the number of participants in traffic.

Next to the green route, the plan is to set up parking spots for passenger vehicles in several location in order to enable simple access to users who have the need for that type of transportation.

At the stations Sremska Kamenica, Ledinci and Beocin, as well as in the Rest Spot no. 1, additionally, electric bicycle chargers are to be installed.

What is planned for the rail stations?

In the locations of the existing rail stations, the plan is to develop features in the function of recreation, cultural center and affirmative social gatherings, except in Petrovaradin, because that station is in use.

Sremska Kamenica Rail Station

The concept of the forming of a new space and the reconstructed unit of the Sremska Kamenica Rail Station entails:

– emphasizing the access to the Sremska Kamenica station by forming a portal and a lookout at the entrance to the station;
– the construction of a new public toilet facility in the station access zone, from the direction of Petrovaradin;
– the forming of the ambient in the function of a “new station” for cyclists, pedestrians and recreational users through the forming a new central event site – an amphitheater;
– the forming of a restaurant ambient with the facility as the central generator of the space which divides the zone into two units – a peaceful zone for projections and events and a more intensive zone of use – a restaurant garden;
– the forming of an amphitheater in the location which follows the lens-like configuration of the location and enables the forming of a stage for the facility of the former station in the sense of a peaceful zone for the visitors, the users of the path and the users of the draisine, which is located in the central zone of the station.



Main Rail Station Building

The rail station facility is to be retained within its current dimensions and volume. It is to be repurposed in a functional sense and a restaurant space is to be formed in the position of the former station with side features.

Within the reconstruction of the facility, the plan is to form a restaurant space within the ground floor and to form a gallery in the position of the existing attic space, unified into a single space unit by forming the galleries, with the introduction of a central staircase and the separation of the functions necessary for the functioning of the restaurant and the kitchen block.

Separate units are to be formed – a usable restaurant space, a separate entrance for the restaurant staff with an accompanying restroom for the staff, a wardrobe and a kitchen block with a pantry. The gallery is reserved for an open mansard restaurant section.

Within the newly formed plazas around the facility, an outdoor stage is to be formed, suitable for screenings, presentations, cultural events, whereas, from the access side of the facility in the zone toward the main street and the current rail crossing, a restaurant garden is to be formed.

At the entrance to the station location itself from the direction of the existing rail crossing, a parking lot is also to be formed, separated from the location by a green area. The access road to the restaurant itself and the side features is also separated from the driving lane by the surrounding facilities which use the same access route.

The entire zone is separated from the neighboring functional wholes – primarily residential in nature, by a green belt and it forms a large city park of a different purpose and intensity of use.

Ledinci Rail Station

The Ledinci Rail Station is located in the middle part of the Petrovaradin - Beocin railroad route, in the narrow band between the main road which connects Petrovaradin and Beocin on one side and the stone processing production facility on the other.

The concept of the forming of a new space and a reconstructed unit entails:

– the reconstruction of the rail station building and the changing of the function;
– the construction of a new store and servicing building at the Ledinci station;
– the forming of an ambient in the function of a “new station” for cyclists, pedestrians and recreational users through the forming of a new central event site;
– the forming of a new traffic route and connection with the main road;
– the forming of ambient units for rest / field trips / recreation.



Ledinci Rail Station Main Building

The reconstruction of the main station building in Ledinci entails the demolition of the current interior arrangement of the rooms and the forming of a new one in the function of a café.

Bicycle service/shop

Within the Ledinci station, the construction of a new facility in the function of a bicycle service and shop is planned, in the location of the old warehouse space.

Beocin Rail Station

The Beocin Rail Station is located at the furthermost end of the route, at around the 17th kilometer of the Petrovaradin - Beocin railroad. What makes its position specific is that it is the biggest one, that the Beocin cement factory is located in its direct extension and that it is being developed within the relatively densely populated city zone.

The reconstruction of the Beocin Rail Station facility entails keeping the statical stability of the building and the preservation of the authentic elements on the entire original building from 1892. In line with the new function of the facility, an annex, built in the 1950s, is to be demolished, and a new annex is to be formed in its place, with a different materialization, fully in line with the functionality of the building through the new, proposed function of the Museum of the route.

The concept of forming a new space and a reconstructed unit in Beocin encompasses:

– the reconstruction of the station facility and the changing of the function;
– the reconstruction and repurposing of the space of a large bag warehouse at the Beocin station into a multifunctional facility;
– the forming of an urban ambient – an amphitheater with side features/info zone.

Beocin Rail Station Main Building

The reconstruction of the main station building in Beocin entails the demolition of the existing interior arrangement of the rooms and the forming of a new one in the function in the function of a museum in the location. The part of the facility created in the 1950s is also to be demolished and a new annex is to be built, which is in the function of the museum.

Within the old station building, a new elevator is to be formed, connecting the basement rooms with the rent spaces on the first floor.



Multifunctional facility (bag warehouse)

The reconstruction of the old goods warehouse (bag warehouse) entails the reconstruction and adaptation of the space of the former goods warehouse into a multifunctional facility within which the following functions are to be developed:

– a restaurant within the functional scheme, sports equipment sales spaces, a hotel/motel, a café, a cultural center, accompanying plazas in front of the facility toward the green path and lateral to the building.

A hotel garni is to be formed in the northeast part of the facility, with a capacity of five apartments with the accompanying entrance section and a sitting section. The apartment area is formed toward the central square – the center of events.

The sales zone is to be formed within the central part of the facility on the south façade of the facility and it consists of a pre-space, a desk and a sales part, as well as separate sanitary blocks. The entire space is divided by a central corridor which connects it to other parts of the facility and is available to people with special needs as well.

The café is located in the position in front of the cultural center and within the hall space.

Considering the structure of the Beocin settlement, its connection with Novi Sad and the need for the forming of features with a non-commercial purpose, a cultural center is formed within the Preliminary Design of the green route. The cultural center may operate as a fully independent function from the rest of the multifunctional facility.

Within the cultural center, the main polyvalent hall, with rooms for technical features and the employees, is to be formed. The hall can be used in various utilization regimes. Entrance from the east side is possible – the gable part of the façade from the flat area, which is formed in front of the cultural center, or directly from the facility – from the shared plaza.

Railroad on route from Petrovaradin to Beocin

The railroad on the route from Petrovaradin to Beocin was in function from 1908 through 2007. Until 1965, passenger and cargo transport had been carried out on the railroad, and from that year, the railroad was only used for cargo transport. The traffic was stopped in 2007 due to the certain elements being worn out.

Along the existing railroad route, four complexes are located, which used to serve as station points, that is, as cargo and passenger traffic rail stations.

These are:

– Petrovaradin Rail Station;
– Sremska Kamenica Rail Station;
– Ledinci Rail Station and
– Beocin Rail Station.

The Petrovaradin station is active and is located within the international Belgrade - Novi Sad -Subotica - Budapest railroad, and the other three stations are not in function.

The route is currently quite dilapidated, and the ties and the tracks have been removed from a major part of it, and in certain parts, those elements are grouped into piles. The area, along a major part of the route, is overgrown with natural greenery, and in certain parts, it is unavailable to pedestrians for that reason. The facilities along the route are for the most part preserved, but also neglected and unmaintained.

A. K.

Pokrajinski sekretarijat za privredu i turizam Novi Sad

AG-UNS arhitektonsko građevinski Institut d.o.o. Novi Sad

Petrovaradin

Sremska Kamenica

Ledinci

Rakovac

Sremski Karlovci

Neštin

Livadska Street

Petrovaradin Beočin railroad

Petrovaradin Beočin green route

Petrovaradin Beočin bicycle route

transformation of a railroad into a green route

intelligent lighting control

DALI system

electric bicycle chargers