Croatia’s passenger rail operator, HŽ Passenger Transport (HŽPP), has successfully introduced all 70 low-floor trains into service thanks to the projects it has carried out.
To mark the commissioning of the 70th low-floor diesel train, a launch ceremony was held on the Varaždin – Čakovec – Varaždin route, attended by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Žarko Tušek.
“This is the end of an extensive investment cycle by HŽ Passenger Transport, which is part of a major program to modernize the entire railway sector. For the operator, the cycle ends with the purchase of 70 trains, worth a total of EUR 360 million, as well as the last diesel train delivered to Varaždin,” said the minister.
After the introduction of the 70 low-floor trains, HŽPP already has contracts for another 19 new trains – battery-powered, battery-electric, and electro-diesel – delivered by domestic rolling stock manufacturer Končar. “Some of these units will also be introduced on the railway lines in the north of the country. We also expect to contract the purchase of nearly 40 more new trains by 2026,” the minister added.
In the counties of Varaždin and Međimurje, HŽPP transported approximately 1.3 million passengers last year, and free transport projects are also proving successful, attracting an increasing number of passengers to the railways. An important step in increasing the attractiveness of services is the purchase of modern rolling stock with facilities for passengers, including those with mobility issues.
In October, the operator introduced a new diesel-electric railcar on the important route connecting Zabok to Đurmanec, via Krapina, which then crosses the border to Slovenia via Rogatec. It should be noted that the new trains are interoperable and, in addition to operating on routes intended for commuter traffic, they also facilitate cross-border travel, an important step not only for the two countries but also for the EU as a whole, which is focusing on eliminating missing cross-border links, not only in terms of infrastructure but also in terms of services.
As part of the strategy to renew the rolling stock fleet, HŽPP, a landmark event was the official launch of the first battery-powered train, organized at the end of September 2025. The train was put into service on the route connecting Zagreb to Bjelovar, a city located in central Croatia, 85 km east of the capital. The new battery-powered train is manufactured by Končar Electrical Industry and has a range of 200 km. According to HŽPP, another battery-powered train will be put into operation this month on non-electrified lines in the Split region.
This year, HŽPP ordered 13 trains, of which five are diesel-electric railcars, four are hybrid (electric-battery) railcars, and another four are battery-powered. Croatia already has a charging station in Varaždin for battery-powered train technology, and this new contract also includes the construction of other stations in Lupoglav and Velika. The new trains will be delivered between 2027 and 2028, when the charging stations will also be operational. In November, HŽPP CEO Željko Ukić said he was working on a new project to purchase several battery-powered railcars and build a charging station in Kotoriba.
Končar, the domestic rolling stock manufacturer, is supplying the national operator’s new fleet of trains and railcars and, as a result, has delivered 70 low-floor trains, including more than 40 railcars, over the past four years.
Infrastructure modernization, linked to the introduction of new trains
In addition to the purchase of new trains, Croatia is carrying out extensive projects to modernize and expand its railway infrastructure, supported last year by over EUR 400 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB). These funds are being used to rehabilitate and modernize around 500 km of suburban and regional lines, particularly in the Slavonia and Podravina regions, but also in cities such as Zadar, Knin, and Karlovac. At the same time, EIB financing is supporting the modernization of 30 stations nationwide, contributing to increased passenger comfort and safety.
In parallel, European funds are also supporting the purchase of 14 new trains, six of which will serve long-distance traffic between Zagreb and Split, while another eight will be battery-powered or hybrid trains, part of Croatia’s efforts to introduce more environmentally friendly rail transport.
In the Varaždin region, this spring marked the launch of a landmark project to modernize and rebuild the railway infrastructure. This is the Kloštar–Koprivnica–Varaždin line, also financed by the EIB, with a value of approximately EUR 190 million. This renewal is part of a larger project to modernize a 90 km section, including the 74.7 km Kloštar–Koprivnica–Varaždin section and the 11.8 km Varaždin–Čakovec section.
“The launch of the modernization project for this line is extremely important for the Varaždin region, as it not only introduces new, emission-free trains, but also expands the rail services offered to residents,” said Anđelko Stričak, Prefect of Varaždin County, at the inauguration of the 70th low-floor train.
Croatia’s investment strategy in rail infrastructure is supported in the long term by funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which allocates EUR 6.2 billion to modernize the entire rail sector and increase the sustainability of rail transport.
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