- Published: 23.07.2024.
Contract signed for the purchase of new electro-diesel motor trains for connecting Split and Zagreb
The contract, valued at €57.3 million and financed through a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan, was signed by the chairman of the board of HŽ Passenger Transport Željko Ukić and the chairman of the board of Končar Electric Vehicles Josip Ninić.
The signing was attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Vice President of the Government and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, Vice President of the Government and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić, Minister of Tourism and Sport Tonči Glavina, Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban and the CEO of KONČAR Electrical Industries Gordan Kolak.
The loan agreement with the EIB for the Croatian railway system revitalisation project was concluded in February. It will finance the purchase of trains, the construction of a technical and logistics centre in Zagreb, and the renovation and construction of local railways, stations, and stops.
The trains will improve connectivity between Split and Zagreb and provide more daily departures, ensuring better local and regional connectivity and citizen mobility.
The Zagreb-Split railway line is 429 kilometers long, electrified from Zagreb to Oštarije, and non-electrified from Oštarije to Split. During the journey, both electric and diesel power will be used, with high-power traction motors to meet the conditions of the mountainous railway. The trains will have 150 seats, reach speeds of 160 km/h, and allow functional coupling of multiple trains, ensuring greater capacity.
The first new train will be on the tracks in two years, "then one train will be put into service every month, and by the end of 2026, we will have a fully renewed fleet between the two cities," said Željko Ukić, chairman of the Board of HŽ Passenger Transport.
"With the delivery of new vehicles, Končar continues to develop products and solutions that reduce harmful climate impacts, offer long-term product sustainability, and are focused on future-oriented digitalisation," said Gordan Kolak, CEO of Končar Electrical Industries.
Končar's trains are among the top high-tech products of Croatian industry, involving a number of Croatian companies, including those from the Dalmatia region, he added.
Vice President of the Government and Minister Oleg Butković said significant investments were being made in the modernisation of railway infrastructure alongside the acquisition of new trains.
"Today we have 61 new trains in service, and in recent years 33 new trains have been purchased and put into operation. By the end of next year, we will have 70 new trains, more than half of the entire fleet," he said, adding that Dalmatia has been included in the European transport corridors network for the first time, opening up possibilities for co-financing the modernisation of the Lika railway from EU funds.
(Hina)