Rail transport in Croatia

Rail transport in Croatia has a long history, dating back to the 19th century. Today, the main company that takes care of the railways is called Croatian Railways. After Croatia became independent in the early 1990s, this company has been in charge of keeping the tracks and trains in good condition.

The big company was later split into three parts. One part, called HŽ Passenger Transport, looks after the trains that carry people. Another part, HŽ Infrastructure, works on the tracks and stations. The last part, HŽ Cargo, handles the trains that move goods from place to place.

Rail transport is important because it helps people travel and lets goods be moved around the country quickly and safely. It connects cities and towns, making life easier for everyone.

History

The first railway in what is now Croatia was built in 1860. It was part of the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary at the time. The railway ran from Nagykanizsa in Hungary through Čakovec and Kotoriba to Pragerski in Slovenia.

More railways were added in 1873, connecting Rijeka, an important port, with Trieste, Vienna, Zagreb, and Budapest. After World War I, these railways were operated by Yugoslav Railways. When Croatia became independent from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatian Railways was created. Over time, this company was split into different parts to manage infrastructure, passengers, and cargo.

Types of passenger train lines

Main article: Train categories in Europe § Croatia

Croatia has different types of passenger train lines that serve various needs. Some trains travel long distances between major cities, while others connect smaller towns and local areas. These different types help people travel easily across the country.

Power systems

Croatia's railway network originally used a 3 kV DC electrification system, starting with the Rijeka–Zagreb line. This helped power trains through the mountainous Gorski kotar area.

Later, the Zagreb–Belgrade railway line and other lines switched to a 25 kV/50 Hz system. Today, all electrified railways in Croatia use this 25 kV/50 Hz system, and the old 3 kV DC parts have been updated. All railway power comes from an overhead catenary system.

Rolling stock

Main article: Rolling stock of the Croatian Railways

Rolling stock refers to all the vehicles used on railway tracks, such as trains and locomotives. In Croatia, these vehicles are managed and maintained by Croatian Railways, the country's main rail company. The rolling stock helps transport people and goods across the country efficiently.

Rail tracks

In Croatia, trains can go as fast as 160 km/h (99 mph) on some tracks. Right now, this speed is possible on parts of the main route from Novska to Tovarnik, especially between Novska-Okučani and Vinkovci-Tovarnik.

The fastest train ever in Croatia went 185 km/h (115 mph). This happened on the track between Novska and Nova Gradiška. The train used for this was built by Rade Končar and is now known as the HŽ1142 class. The train safety system used is called Indusi, which is an older version of a modern German system called Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung. Signals on the tracks are mostly automatic, especially on the main lines.

Railway network

Main article: List of railway lines in Croatia

Rail transport in Croatia began in the 19th century. After the country became independent in the early 1990s, a state-owned company called Croatian Railways has taken care of maintaining the tracks and trains. This company has since been divided into three parts that handle passengers, infrastructure, and cargo separately.