The railway line leading to the Hungarian border is also set to be upgraded as part of Croatia’s large-scale development programme

Croatia plans to carry out railway development projects worth around six billion euros – approximately 2,187 billion forints – by 2035. A significant proportion of the investment is intended to modernise the railway link between the port of Fiume (Rijeka), Zagreb and the Hungarian border. According to a report in the Croatian business daily Poslovni Dnevnik, 166 kilometres of the country’s 2,617-kilometre railway network are currently out of use, and only around 400 kilometres are double-track. A significant part of the network is outdated, with speed restrictions currently slowing down traffic on 237 kilometres. On many lines in Croatia, traffic continues to run on a single track, meaning that trains having to pass each other significantly increases journey times. Most delays in 2025 and 2026 were concentrated on the Zagreb–Kapronca (Koprivnica), Zagreb–Osijek and Zagreb–Split lines.

Work on the railway line leading to the Hungarian border is nearing completion

One of the most significant investment projects is the modernisation of the railway line running north-east from Zagreb towards the Hungarian border. On the Dugo Selo–Kőrös (Krizevci) section, 99 per cent of the work has been completed, and the project is due to be finished by the end of the year. Construction work on the Kőrös–Kapronca–Hungarian border section is also nearing completion. According to the plans, the speed limit on the new line will be gradually increased to 160 kilometres per hour from the 2026/2027 timetable period, although lower speed limits will remain in force on certain urban sections.

The infrastructure operator attributed the multi-year delay in construction to, amongst other things, the contractors’ financial difficulties, the coronavirus pandemic and procurement difficulties arising from the war in Ukraine. Landslides also hampered work on the section leading towards the Hungarian border.

A development project worth nearly 700 million euros could be the Croatian railways’ largest single project

One of the largest investment projects in the coming period could be the modernisation of the Dugo Selo–Novska railway line. According to information from the ministry, the development – to be carried out under a construction contract worth almost 700 million euros – could become the largest single project in the history of the Croatian railways. The section linking Dugo Selo, situated in the Zagreb suburbs, with Novska in Western Slavonia forms part of one of the main rail corridors between the capital and Slavonia. 

A second track is being built between Zagreb and Karlovac

A significant proportion of the development work, however, is aimed at modernising the rail link between the port of Rijeka, Zagreb and the Hungarian border. Preparatory work has already begun on the Hrvatski Leskovac–Karlovac section; as part of the project, the existing track will be upgraded over a distance of 44 kilometres and a second track will be built alongside it. The project is scheduled for completion in 2029.