The Spanish company COMSA Corporación has been selected by HŽ Infrastruktura to carry out modernization, expansion, and electrification works on the Hrvatski Leskovac–Karlovac railway section in central Croatia.
The project covers 44 km of railway track and includes the reconstruction of the existing line, the construction of a second track, work on bridges and viaducts, the modernization of stations and stops, as well as the installation of modern electrical and signaling systems. Upon completion, trains are expected to run at speeds of up to 160 km/h.
The project is significant for the Croatian network, as the Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac section is part of the Zagreb – Rijeka axis, one of the country’s most important rail links. As early as 2022, HŽ Infrastruktura described this contract as being for the reconstruction of the existing track and the construction of a second track on the same 44-km section.
The contract was initially signed with STRABAG in 2022
Context is essential, because this project is not entirely new. In July 2022, HŽ Infrastruktura signed the contract for the civil engineering and electrical works subsystem with the consortium STRABAG d.o.o. / STRABAG AG / STRABAG Rail a.s., for the same Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac section, worth approximately EUR 227.4 million. At the same time, the company AŽD Praha was awarded the contract for the control, signaling, and interlocking subsystem, worth EUR 35 million.
At that time, the project was presented as a key initiative for modernizing the rail corridor to the port of Rijeka and for increasing capacity and speed on this section.
What has happened in the meantime
In 2026, however, HŽ Infrastruktura selected a new contractor for the same project: COMSA. Croatian sources indicate that the procedure was long and complicated, marked by appeals and the reopening of the tender.
According to the Croatian press, the contract previously awarded to the STRABAG consortium did not proceed in its original form because not all necessary permits were obtained, and work continued only on certain facilities and structures of the project. Subsequently, following an amicable agreement between STRABAG and HŽ Infrastruktura, a new tender was launched at the end of 2024.
The new tender was won by COMSA, and the decision came after the appeals filed by other bidders were rejected. HŽ Infrastruktura selected the Spanish company for the reconstruction of the existing line, the construction of the second track, and the electrification of the M202 section on the Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac stretch.
Higher Value and New Contractor
According to regional sources, the project was re-evaluated at approximately EUR 255 million excluding VAT, and COMSA’s bid amounted to approximately EUR 278.8 million excluding VAT, or EUR 348.5 million including VAT. This was, according to the same sources, the second-lowest bid, but the one selected by the contracting authority.
The Croatian press also noted the cost difference compared to the previous phase, emphasizing that the new bid is significantly higher than the 2022 contract terms and that work could begin, barring any further delays, during the summer of 2026.
What COMSA Will Do
Under the new contract, COMSA announces that it will carry out one of the most important railway projects in recent years in Eastern Europe. The company mentions:
- the construction of the second line,
- new bridges and viaducts,
- the modernization of stations and stops,
- and the introduction of state-of-the-art electrical and signaling systems.
Share on:
