HŽ Passenger Transport (HŽPP) has placed an order with Končar Electric Vehicles for 13 additional hybrid and battery trains, of which five electro-diesel vehicles, four electro-battery trains, and four pure battery units. The agreement also includes two charging stations to be installed at Lupoglav and Velika stations. Delivery is scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
The contracts were signed by Željko Ukić, CEO of HŽPP, and Josip Ninić, CEO of Končar – Electric Vehicles, in the presence of Transport Minister Oleg Butković and Končar CEO Gordan Kolak.
EUR 117.9 million is the value of the contract, which is financed through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under a EUR 400 million contract signed in February 2024. This loan supports rail infrastructure upgrade projects and the procurement of 14 new long-distance transport trains as well as battery and battery- electric trains.
The project is worth EUR 117.9 million and is financed via an EIB loan that forms part of a EUR 400 million package agreed in February 2024. This funding also supports upgrades to rail infrastructure and the acquisition of 14 new long-distance and battery-powered trains.
The diesel-electric trains will feature two types of propulsion: electric for electrified railway lines and diesel for non-electrified sections. Their maximum speed will be 160 km/h. Each train will have 150 seats and include onboard catering services.
The electro-battery trains will run on non-electrified tracks. In battery version, they will run at a maximum speed of 120 km/h, while on electrified they will be able to reach 160 km/h. The batteries can be charged from the contact line or at charging stations. Each train will have 150 seats.
The battery trains will be powered entirely by batteries that can only be charged at dedicated charging stations. These trains will have a maximum speed of 120 km/h and will have a capacity of 100 seats each.
All 13 trains will be low-floor units to ensure easier boarding and alighting for all passengers. They will provide increased access for wheelchair users and will have designated areas for bicycles and power sockets. The trains will be equipped with modern passenger information systems and video cameras, while passengers will have free Wi-Fi onboard. The trains will feature video surveillance and the ability to connect multiple units together to increase capacity.
Over the last four years, Croatia has allocated EUR 194 million towards purchasing new trains. This investment has led to the expansion of the national fleet, with 24 additional trains to be added, including the newly ordered hybrid models, representing a total investment of EUR 200 million.
“Despite the challenges common to large infrastructure projects, public perception of railways is improving. Not long ago, battery-powered trains seemed unlikely, but now they are running on our lines,” said Minister Butković.
The new hybrid and battery will enable improved service quality and better local and regional connectivity, particularly on the non-electrified lines of the rail network. More than 60% of Croatia’s rail network is not electrified which requires the acquisition of trains able to run on these lines without impact on the environment.
“Electro-diesel trains are hybrid units that can run on both electrified and non-electrified lines, as can electro-battery trains, while battery-powered trains are intended specifically for routes without overhead power supply. With these new trains entering service, we will significantly improve the quality of rail transport in areas of Croatia where trains currently in use are nearly 45 years old,” emphasised Željko Ukić, CEO of HŽ Passenger Transport.
By type of the train, they will be deployed on:
- Electro-diesel trains will operate on routes from Zagreb to Koprivnica and Osijek, Čakovec and Kotoriba, as well as to Zadar, Rijeka and Pula (via Slovenia);
- Electro-battery trains will be used on both electrified and non-electrified lines in Croatia; and
- Battery trains will operate exclusively on non-electrified lines.
“This project is part of a broader wave of investment in the modernisation of rolling stock and railway infrastructure in Croatia, which in the coming years will significantly transform public transport – making it faster, quieter, greener, and more accessible,” the CEO of Končar, Gordan Kolak, said.
In 2024, Croatian rail passenger operator HŽPP and Končar Electric Vehicles signed a EUR 57.3 million contract for the supply of six diesel-electric trains which will replace the trains running between Split and Zagreb since 2004. This contract is also supported by an EIB loan.
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