ZAGREB, 9 June (Hina) – Railway infrastructure in Croatia is currently being renewed through projects worth €1.7 billion, with additional billions in investments expected soon. By 2032, up to 130 new trains could be operating on the country’s rail network, it was highlighted at a conference in Zagreb on Monday.
The conference, titled “Croatia Connected: Railway Modernisation”, was organised by the Večernji List daily and the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.
Žarko Tušek, State Secretary at the Ministry, said that projects worth €1.7 billion are currently active as part of railway revitalisation efforts, and that a further €6 billion will be invested by 2031 – the amount deemed necessary to bring the railway system up to the level of development seen in neighbouring Western countries.
“We are fully aware that this is a major challenge, involving projects of a scale not previously seen in Croatia, whether financially or technically. We are proud of all the efforts we are making as the competent ministry, in cooperation with the management boards of HЕЅ Infrastructure, HЕЅ Passenger Transport, HЕЅ Cargo and their affiliated companies, to accelerate these projects and position the railway where it deserves to be in terms of Croatia’s economic development, passenger and freight transport, social and environmental sustainability, and all the things modern railways must represent today,” Tušek said.
He emphasised that railways are also a key focus at the European level, with the European Commission allocating substantial funds for railway infrastructure development through a range of operational programmes. Croatia has added national funding to this, along with a European Investment Bank loan worth nearly €1 billion. He also noted that new funds and mechanisms are being prepared to further boost the development of new corridors, railway infrastructure and the procurement of new trains.
Tušek acknowledged the inconveniences that railway revitalisation brings to daily life and thanked the public, businesses, transport operators, shipping companies and all others linked to the railway for their understanding.
Half of rail network to be modernised in 10 years
Ivan Kršić, CEO of HЕЅ Infrastructure, said the company launched a major investment cycle a few years ago. At present, more than €1 billion worth of construction works are ongoing, and projects totalling €6 billion are planned over the next ten years.
“Over the next decade, we will reconstruct and modernise around 1,000 kilometres of track, which is roughly half of the entire network,” Kršić said. He pointed out that railway infrastructure had not been invested in for years, partly due to the focus on building motorways. “The state couldn’t finance everything at once, and now it’s the railway’s turn,” Kršić stressed.
Željko Ukić, CEO of HЕЅ Passenger Transport, noted that the company faces two major challenges during this period of large-scale infrastructure work – organising transport during the construction phase and procuring new trains.
“HЕЅ Passenger Transport will have 70 new trains in its fleet by the end of the year, which is slightly more than 50% of the active fleet. In the coming period, we will also sign a new contract for the procurement of 13 additional trains,” Ukić said.
Of these 13 new trains, five will be electric-diesel units intended for long-distance services, with the remaining eight comprising four battery-powered and four battery-electric trains. The battery-powered trains are intended for the lines in Istria and Dalmatia, while the battery-electric units will serve the continental part of the country.
Ukić added that the aim is to completely renew the passenger transport fleet by 2032, which would mean the operational fleet would consist of around 130 new trains.
