‘Freight to be primary beneficiary of 6 billion euros in Croatian investments’

Croatia is planning to invest a record 6 billion euros in its railway infrastructure during the coming decade. Its infrastructure manager, HŽ Infrastruktura, says that freight will walk away with most of the benefits: a crucial line to Hungary will be upgraded.

HŽ Infrastruktura says that it is currently implementing a number of renovation and modernisation projects with its “largest ever investment in railway infrastructure”, most of which is being co-financed with EU funds. These have opened up since the EU’s youngest member joined the union in 2013. And as Brussels ploughs ahead with its shift to sustainable mobility, HŽ Infrastruktura is making use of what’s on offer.

“This is precisely why HŽ Infrastruktura is the country’s largest user of EU funds in the transport sector,” the company said. “There are currently 17 EU projects being implemented, and there are also numerous projects from other funding sources.”

Freight to benefit most

It just so happens to be that the primary beneficiary of these projects is freight, according to the infrastructure manager. “Most of the capital infrastructure projects are carried out on two international corridors – RH2 corridor that leads from Rijeka, via Zagreb to Budapest, and RH1 corridor that stretches from Slovenia through Zagreb to Serbia. Both corridors are part of the core TEN-T network”, HŽ Infrastruktura said. “If we consider that most freight traffic in the country passes through the corridor from Rijeka to Hungary, then we can conclude that they”, that is, Croatia’s 18 rail freight operators, “will benefit the most.”

The investments are extensive, and will overhaul Croatia’s entire rail network. “There is almost no kilometre of railway lines that is not in some stage of reconstruction – either preparation of documentation, bidding for works or execution of works. Many projects have already been completed”, the infrastructure manager explains. It is also working to roll out ERTMS.

Funding from all over

There is widespread interest in Croatia’s rail works. The country can count on funding from various sources, such as the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Connecting Europe Facility and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. “In addition to money from European funds, projects are also financed with loans from development banks – the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development”, HŽ Infrastruktura says. On top of that, Croatia signed a 900 million euro deal with the European Investment Bank.

However, the works are also causing disruptions. Currently, the Križevci – Koprivnica line is closed until 6 November as part of the country’s largest railway project. Croatia is modernising the railway line between Križevci and the border with Hungary, and is aiming for completion by the end of the year. Additionally, the Koprivnica – Drnje – Gyekenyes border crossing section will be down between 26 November and 2 December.