Croatia’s railway infrastructure manager, HŽ Infrastruktura, has opened the bids for the selection of the technical consultant who will support the implementation of a new contracting model for the construction of the Plain Line Zagreb–Rijeka, one of Croatia’s most important railway projects.
The procurement procedure concerns technical assistance for the preparation and implementation of an Alliance-type contract for the design and execution of works on the Karlovac–Skradnik and Skradnik–Krasica–Tijani sections.
Two bids were submitted in response to the tender: the estimated value of the contract for consultancy services is EUR 1.5 million, and the contract term is five years from the date of signing.
- Vision (Helsinki, Finland) with a bid value of EUR 1.02 million + VAT;
- A consortium comprising KPMG Croatia (lead), Projekt Jednako Razvoj and the law firm Kallay & Partners (Croatia), with a bid of EUR 692,500 plus VAT.
Following the evaluation of the bids, HŽ Infrastruktura will decide on the award of the contract.
A new contracting model
The main objective of the consultancy is to prepare a public procurement strategy for the implementation of the Alliance model, which involves close collaboration between the client and the contractor right from the design stage.
The consultant’s role will be to draw up the procurement documentation, support negotiations with interested economic operators, contribute to the development of the contractual terms and conditions, and provide assistance throughout the execution of the works, including in any appeal or dispute proceedings.
Croatia will be applying this contractual model for the first time in the national infrastructure sector, and the Zagreb–Rijeka lowland line project will be the first railway investment carried out using this approach.
The Zagreb–Rijeka line will connect the Croatian port with Central Europe
The Karlovac–Skradnik and Skradnik–Krasica–Tijani sections are currently at the preliminary design stage. The submission of documentation to obtain planning permission is scheduled for by the end of 2026, following the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition’s decision in 2025 on the project’s environmental acceptability.
The project will connect the port of Rijeka with Hungary and other markets in Central Europe. The new infrastructure will be approximately 175 km long, making it 56 km shorter than the current route.
The line will be built as a double-track railway, will be electrified and designed for speeds of up to 160 km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight trains.
Five new stations and one stop are planned along the route, as well as over 30 viaducts and tunnels, due to the challenging terrain traversed by the new route.
One of the most important elements of the project will be the construction of Croatia’s longest railway tunnel, measuring 14 km, which will pass through the Velika Kapela mountain range.
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