Croatia - General Information: Difference between revisions
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==National railway system== | ==National railway system== | ||
Hrvatske Željeznice (HŽ). In 2006 the former state railway company was replaced by a holding company (HŽ Holding d.o.o.) plus subsidiary companies for the management of infrastructure, passenger services and freight services. In November 2012 the holding company was dissolved and the former subsidiaries restructured as stand-alone companies. | |||
===National Railway Operator=== | ===National Railway Operator=== | ||
[ | Passenger train operations are the responsibility of [https://www.hzpp.hr/en HŽ Putnički Prijevoz (HŽPP)] | ||
Freight operations are the responsibility of [https://www.hzcargo.hr HŽ Cargo] | |||
===Other Operators=== | |||
There are no operators competing directly with HŽPP on domestic passenger services within Croatia. The following operators run trains to/from neighbouring countries, primarily during the summer months and targeted at international tourist traffic: | |||
* [https://www.optimatours.de/en/ Optima Express] operate trains during the summer including car transport between Austria and Bulgaria via Croatia. | |||
* [https://www.nightjet.com/en/komfortkategorien/euronight ÖBB EuroNight] operate services during the summer between Wien and Split. | |||
==Language== | ==Language== | ||
| Line 10: | Line 21: | ||
==Currency== | ==Currency== | ||
Kuna | Formerly the Kuna, from 1st January 2023 the official currency is the Euro. | ||
==UIC code== | ==UIC code== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 28: | ||
==Timetable== | ==Timetable== | ||
===Journey Planner=== | ===Journey Planner=== | ||
[ | Available on the main page of the [https://www.hzpp.hr/en HŽPP] web site. | ||
===Actual Train Times=== | |||
A real-time tracker is available [https://mapper.zeljeznice.net here]. | |||
===Downloadable Timetable=== | ===Downloadable Timetable=== | ||
HŽPP produce separate timetable documents for domestic and for international services. They make minor updates to the timetables throughout the year on an as-required basis. Following changes to their website in early 2025, the latest timetable versions can be accessed from the main HŽPP page by clicking on the menu button (top right) then selecting [https://www.hzpp.hr/en/timetable “Timetable”] or [https://www.hzpp.hr/hr/vozni-red “Vozni Red”] depending upon the language selection. | |||
===Printed Timetable=== | |||
Vozni Red, including introductory material in German used to be printed annually. It is not known if this is still available, reports would be welcome. | |||
===Engineering Information=== | ===Engineering Information=== | ||
Go to the [https://eng.hzinfra.hr/ HŽ Infrastruktura page], scroll down to find a list of lines where services are affected. However the [https://www.hzinfra.hr/radovi-na-mrezi/ Croatian language page] is likely to be kept more up to date. | |||
===Bus Information=== | ===Bus Information=== | ||
The largest company is [ | The largest company is [https://www.croatiabus.hr/en/home/ Croatia Bus] | ||
==Maps== | ==Maps== | ||
===Printed Maps=== | ===Printed Maps=== | ||
*European Railway Atlas | *[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball. | ||
*[ | *[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-3 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3)]] by M.G. Ball. | ||
===Web-based Maps=== | ===Web-based Maps=== | ||
* | *[https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/slovenia_croatia_bosnia-herzegovina.html Map of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina] dated October 2022 - on the [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps Railroad Maps site]. | ||
*[[Maps and Plans#Croatia|Maps and Plans - Croatia]] | *[[Maps and Plans#Croatia|Maps and Plans - Croatia]] | ||
*Some useful diagrammatic maps are contained in Annex | *A network map is available on the [https://eng.hzinfra.hr/ HŽ Infrastruktura] site. Click on HŽ NETWORK then scroll to the bottom of the next page, click on the map image to enlarge and/or download it. | ||
*Some useful diagrammatic maps are contained in Annex 2 of the [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]. | |||
==Infrastructure== | ==Infrastructure== | ||
===Infrastructure Authority=== | ===Infrastructure Authority=== | ||
[ | [https://www.hzinfra.hr HŽ Infrastruktura d.o.o.] | ||
===Network Statement=== | ===Network Statement=== | ||
The Network Statement can be downloaded from the [ | The Network Statement can be downloaded from the [https://eng.hzinfra.hr/?page_id=284 Network Statement page]. | ||
===Gauge=== | ===Gauge=== | ||
Standard. | Standard. | ||
Tram Systems are 1000 mm gauge. | |||
===Electrification=== | ===Electrification=== | ||
25 kV 50 Hz. Moravice to Šapjane via Rijeka was 3 kV dc, but this was progressively switched to 25 kV 50 Hz on various dates in December 2012. | 25 kV 50 Hz. Moravice to Šapjane via Rijeka was 3 kV dc, but this was progressively switched to 25 kV 50 Hz on various dates in December 2012. | ||
Electrification of Vinkovci to Vukovar was completed in April 2024. | |||
===Rule of the road=== | ===Rule of the road=== | ||
| Line 59: | Line 78: | ||
===Distances=== | ===Distances=== | ||
km post distances are given for each station in Annex 2.13 of the [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]. | |||
==Private railways== | ==Private railways== | ||
| Line 70: | Line 89: | ||
None. | None. | ||
==Trams== | == Trams/LRT-Systems == | ||
Osijek, Zagreb. | Osijek, Zagreb. | ||
==Recent and | The [https://urbanrail.net/eu/euromet.htm#yu UrabnRailNet] site has basic diagrams of the tramway systems along with links to the local operators. | ||
The | |||
* | A Track plan for the Zagreb tram system is available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. | ||
Links at [https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/croatia.html Sinfin.net] site | |||
See also [[Croatia_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Croatia - Tram services over obscure routes]] | |||
==Recent and Future Changes== | |||
===Future changes=== | |||
With substantial financial support from the EU (Connecting Europe Facility and Cohesion Fund), a series of projects are underway to upgrade the entire route from the Hungarian border at Gyékényes to the port of Rijeka which forms part of the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor. The work will result in a high quality double-track railway throughout. Projects in progress include: | |||
* Križevci – Koprivnica - Hungarian border. Upgrade work started in 2020, estimated completion in 2025. | |||
* Dugo Selo – Križevci. Upgrade work started in 2016 but has been seriously delayed due to the failure of a sub-contractor. Revised estimate for completion now 2025. | |||
* Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac. Upgrade work began September 2022, expected completion Q1 2025. | |||
* Karlovac – Oštarije. Preparation of study / design documentation for new double-track route was completed in 2023. | |||
* Oštarije - Škrljevo (Rijeka). Preliminary studies for new double-track route. | |||
The government has promised that there will be a focus on renovating local and regional railways starting in 2025, which could lead eventually to the reopening of the presently disused railways between Sisak Caprag and Petrinja (the eastern 10 km of the former line between Sisak Caprag and Karlovac which closed in the early 1990s) and between Čaglin and Našice (which was suspended in 2010 due to poor condition of the infrastructure). These projects would not be eligible for EU funding support and would have to be financed from the State budget. A EUR 400 million loan was agreed with the EIB in February 2024, to help finance the rehabilitation of 500km of local and regional lines and the modernisation of 30 stations. The first individual project to be announced, in September 2024, was for the reconstruction of the Knin to Zadar line, although renovation of the stations will follow later. | |||
The | Rijeka, Krk bridge: The development plan for Rijeka Port includes the building of a new container terminal near Omišalj and expansion of the existing LNG/oil terminals on the island of Krk, where Rijeka airport is also located. The existing bridge to the island is in poor condition and the government is planning to construct a new bridge, which will have two decks including one dedicated to a rail link for the anticipated traffic. The necessary studies and detail design will take several years, with construction completed by 2029 at the earliest. | ||
The | ===Changes in 2025=== | ||
* Table 90: The summer service between Buzet and Rakitovec / Divača (Slovenia) starting on 20 June is enhanced by a through service from / to Zagreb, outbound on Fridays and returning on Sundays. This service together with a return service between Pula and Divača on Saturdays continue until the end of the timetable period. | |||
===Changes in 2024=== | |||
As part of the project to upgrade the line from Križevci to Koprivnica and the Hungarian border (Gyekenyes), a 5km long new alignment was opened between Carevdar and Lepavina on 6 November 2024. This was followed on 2 December 2024 by the opening of a new bridge over the river Drava, close to the Hungarian border, to provide a second track. | |||
Following completion of upgrade work, a full train service was restored between Zabok and Krapina on 4 September 2024. | |||
===Changes in 2023=== | |||
* | The following changes occurred at the timetable change on 10 December 2023: | ||
* | * Table 13. Most services between Zabok and Krapina are operated by buses while upgrade works take place. | ||
* | * Table 17. Local services between Čakovec and Macinec were announced as being operated by buses, although not explicitly shown in the timetable. | ||
* Table 18. Services were restored on the cross border branch line from Mursko Središće to Lendava. Two trains operate Mondays to Fridays and one on Saturdays. | |||
* Tables 30/47. After several years of being suspended, there are no longer any services shown on the line between Erdut and Bogojevo (Serbia). | |||
Table 61. The Karlovac - Kamanje - Bubnjarci service was replaced by buses from 31 March 2023 owing to the poor condition of the infrastructure. No trains were shown beyond Bubnjarci in the timetable dated 6 February 2023, so services on this section had been withdrawn on or before this date. | |||
===Changes in 2022=== | |||
A summer seasonal service was restored for 2022 between Sarajevo and Ploče, reopening the Ploče – Metković line (table 74) and associated border crossing. The service ran Fridays / Saturdays / Sundays between 1st July and 11th September, operated by ŽFBH. | |||
===Changes in 2021=== | |||
Cross border services between Erdut and Bogojevo (Serbia) reappeared in the 2021-22 timetable with two pairs of trains, however the Serbian timetable showed them all as suspended. It is believed that these services did not operate. The 2022/23 timetable again showed two pairs of trains, however the Traffic Situation page on the HŽPP web site stated that these were not running at the request of the Serbian Railways, while the Serbian timetable similarly showed the trains but noted them as suspended. | |||
The | Electrification of the Zaprešić – Zabok line was completed during 2021. The service between Varaždin and Zagreb (table 12) was revised with effect from 12 December 2021 such that most journeys on this route now require a change of train at Zabok. | ||
Cross | Cross border services between Mursko Središće and Lendava (Slovenia) and between Bubnjarci and Metlika (Slovenia) were withdrawn from 5 April 2021. | ||
===Older Changes=== | |||
For details of older changes see [[Croatia - Older General Information]]. | |||
==Special notes== | ==Special notes== | ||
| Line 130: | Line 150: | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Navbox Croatia}} | {{Navbox Croatia}} | ||
[[Category:General Information]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:12, 8 September 2025
Country Name
Croatia (Hrvatska)
National railway system
Hrvatske Željeznice (HŽ). In 2006 the former state railway company was replaced by a holding company (HŽ Holding d.o.o.) plus subsidiary companies for the management of infrastructure, passenger services and freight services. In November 2012 the holding company was dissolved and the former subsidiaries restructured as stand-alone companies.
National Railway Operator
Passenger train operations are the responsibility of HŽ Putnički Prijevoz (HŽPP)
Freight operations are the responsibility of HŽ Cargo
Other Operators
There are no operators competing directly with HŽPP on domestic passenger services within Croatia. The following operators run trains to/from neighbouring countries, primarily during the summer months and targeted at international tourist traffic:
- Optima Express operate trains during the summer including car transport between Austria and Bulgaria via Croatia.
- ÖBB EuroNight operate services during the summer between Wien and Split.
Language
Croatian.
Currency
Formerly the Kuna, from 1st January 2023 the official currency is the Euro.
UIC code
numeric 78; alpha HR
Timetable
Journey Planner
Available on the main page of the HŽPP web site.
Actual Train Times
A real-time tracker is available here.
Downloadable Timetable
HŽPP produce separate timetable documents for domestic and for international services. They make minor updates to the timetables throughout the year on an as-required basis. Following changes to their website in early 2025, the latest timetable versions can be accessed from the main HŽPP page by clicking on the menu button (top right) then selecting “Timetable” or “Vozni Red” depending upon the language selection.
Printed Timetable
Vozni Red, including introductory material in German used to be printed annually. It is not known if this is still available, reports would be welcome.
Engineering Information
Go to the HŽ Infrastruktura page, scroll down to find a list of lines where services are affected. However the Croatian language page is likely to be kept more up to date.
Bus Information
The largest company is Croatia Bus
Maps
Printed Maps
- European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball.
- European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3) by M.G. Ball.
Web-based Maps
- Map of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina dated October 2022 - on the Railroad Maps site.
- Maps and Plans - Croatia
- A network map is available on the HŽ Infrastruktura site. Click on HŽ NETWORK then scroll to the bottom of the next page, click on the map image to enlarge and/or download it.
- Some useful diagrammatic maps are contained in Annex 2 of the Network Statement.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Authority
Network Statement
The Network Statement can be downloaded from the Network Statement page.
Gauge
Standard.
Tram Systems are 1000 mm gauge.
Electrification
25 kV 50 Hz. Moravice to Šapjane via Rijeka was 3 kV dc, but this was progressively switched to 25 kV 50 Hz on various dates in December 2012.
Electrification of Vinkovci to Vukovar was completed in April 2024.
Rule of the road
Right.
Distances
km post distances are given for each station in Annex 2.13 of the Network Statement.
Private railways
None.
Tourist lines
None.
Metro
None.
Trams/LRT-Systems
Osijek, Zagreb.
The UrabnRailNet site has basic diagrams of the tramway systems along with links to the local operators.
A Track plan for the Zagreb tram system is available on the Gleisplanweb site.
Links at Sinfin.net site
See also Croatia - Tram services over obscure routes
Recent and Future Changes
Future changes
With substantial financial support from the EU (Connecting Europe Facility and Cohesion Fund), a series of projects are underway to upgrade the entire route from the Hungarian border at Gyékényes to the port of Rijeka which forms part of the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor. The work will result in a high quality double-track railway throughout. Projects in progress include:
- Križevci – Koprivnica - Hungarian border. Upgrade work started in 2020, estimated completion in 2025.
- Dugo Selo – Križevci. Upgrade work started in 2016 but has been seriously delayed due to the failure of a sub-contractor. Revised estimate for completion now 2025.
- Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac. Upgrade work began September 2022, expected completion Q1 2025.
- Karlovac – Oštarije. Preparation of study / design documentation for new double-track route was completed in 2023.
- Oštarije - Škrljevo (Rijeka). Preliminary studies for new double-track route.
The government has promised that there will be a focus on renovating local and regional railways starting in 2025, which could lead eventually to the reopening of the presently disused railways between Sisak Caprag and Petrinja (the eastern 10 km of the former line between Sisak Caprag and Karlovac which closed in the early 1990s) and between Čaglin and Našice (which was suspended in 2010 due to poor condition of the infrastructure). These projects would not be eligible for EU funding support and would have to be financed from the State budget. A EUR 400 million loan was agreed with the EIB in February 2024, to help finance the rehabilitation of 500km of local and regional lines and the modernisation of 30 stations. The first individual project to be announced, in September 2024, was for the reconstruction of the Knin to Zadar line, although renovation of the stations will follow later.
Rijeka, Krk bridge: The development plan for Rijeka Port includes the building of a new container terminal near Omišalj and expansion of the existing LNG/oil terminals on the island of Krk, where Rijeka airport is also located. The existing bridge to the island is in poor condition and the government is planning to construct a new bridge, which will have two decks including one dedicated to a rail link for the anticipated traffic. The necessary studies and detail design will take several years, with construction completed by 2029 at the earliest.
Changes in 2025
- Table 90: The summer service between Buzet and Rakitovec / Divača (Slovenia) starting on 20 June is enhanced by a through service from / to Zagreb, outbound on Fridays and returning on Sundays. This service together with a return service between Pula and Divača on Saturdays continue until the end of the timetable period.
Changes in 2024
As part of the project to upgrade the line from Križevci to Koprivnica and the Hungarian border (Gyekenyes), a 5km long new alignment was opened between Carevdar and Lepavina on 6 November 2024. This was followed on 2 December 2024 by the opening of a new bridge over the river Drava, close to the Hungarian border, to provide a second track.
Following completion of upgrade work, a full train service was restored between Zabok and Krapina on 4 September 2024.
Changes in 2023
The following changes occurred at the timetable change on 10 December 2023:
- Table 13. Most services between Zabok and Krapina are operated by buses while upgrade works take place.
- Table 17. Local services between Čakovec and Macinec were announced as being operated by buses, although not explicitly shown in the timetable.
- Table 18. Services were restored on the cross border branch line from Mursko Središće to Lendava. Two trains operate Mondays to Fridays and one on Saturdays.
- Tables 30/47. After several years of being suspended, there are no longer any services shown on the line between Erdut and Bogojevo (Serbia).
Table 61. The Karlovac - Kamanje - Bubnjarci service was replaced by buses from 31 March 2023 owing to the poor condition of the infrastructure. No trains were shown beyond Bubnjarci in the timetable dated 6 February 2023, so services on this section had been withdrawn on or before this date.
Changes in 2022
A summer seasonal service was restored for 2022 between Sarajevo and Ploče, reopening the Ploče – Metković line (table 74) and associated border crossing. The service ran Fridays / Saturdays / Sundays between 1st July and 11th September, operated by ŽFBH.
Changes in 2021
Cross border services between Erdut and Bogojevo (Serbia) reappeared in the 2021-22 timetable with two pairs of trains, however the Serbian timetable showed them all as suspended. It is believed that these services did not operate. The 2022/23 timetable again showed two pairs of trains, however the Traffic Situation page on the HŽPP web site stated that these were not running at the request of the Serbian Railways, while the Serbian timetable similarly showed the trains but noted them as suspended.
Electrification of the Zaprešić – Zabok line was completed during 2021. The service between Varaždin and Zagreb (table 12) was revised with effect from 12 December 2021 such that most journeys on this route now require a change of train at Zabok.
Cross border services between Mursko Središće and Lendava (Slovenia) and between Bubnjarci and Metlika (Slovenia) were withdrawn from 5 April 2021.
Older Changes
For details of older changes see Croatia - Older General Information.
Special notes
Under no circumstances should disused railway lines or installations be explored, because they may not have been cleared of mines.
The Buzet to Pula line is accessible by rail only via Slovenia. A bus service, on which rail tickets are accepted, runs between Rijeka and Lupoglav and is the preferred route from Zagreb to Pula. An international ticket, at a higher fare, is required for travel on a through train via Ljubljana and passengers are subject to passport and customs checks at both border crossings.
