Croatia’s largest railway project nears completion

Around 70% of work has been completed on the largest railway infrastructure project in Croatian history.

HŽ Infrastruktura (Croatian railways infrastructure) have released new photos showing the progress on the construction and reconstruction of the Križevci–Koprivnica–Drava railway line in the north-east of the country.

The project, valued at approximately €350 million (VAT included), is co-funded by the EU, covering 85% of the costs. Spanning over 43 kilometres, the railway section is expected to be finished by the end of 2025, allowing trains to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, Danica.hr reported.

This section forms part of the main international corridor M201 DG – Botovo – Dugo Selo, which is also integral to the Rijeka-Zagreb-Budapest line on the Mediterranean Corridor.

The project aims to significantly reduce travel time between Koprivnica and Zagreb to around 45 minutes. It will also accommodate the longest train compositions ever seen in Croatia, HŽ Infrastruktura said.

HŽ Infrastruktura also notes that the new line will support interoperable freight trains up to 750 metres long, with a maximum axle load of 25 tonnes, as well as passenger trains up to 400 metres long.

The new railway will feature dual tracks, an upgraded electrification system, and seven new bridges. The most challenging of these, a 340-metre steel bridge over the Drava River, is nearing completion. Additional bridges include Glogovnica, several in Koprivnica, and Gliboki, north of Drnje.

In Koprivnica, as part of the station’s redevelopment into a key European railway hub, a 150-metre pedestrian underpass has already been built beneath Zagrebačka Street.

A pedestrian and cyclist underpass is also being completed at Čarda, further enhancing connectivity and safety.