Since Croatia will become an EU member, the financing possibilities of projects will increase significantly, emphasizing here the importance of the transport segment. As the transport system is among EU’s priorities within the cohesion and structural funds, Croatia will obviously benefit from this financing more than it did before.
Although a small state, Croatia is crossed by important transport corridors X, Vb, Vb1 (corridors which represent a connection between the ports of the Adriatic Sea and the destinations of the Eurasian area), Vc and Corridor VII, the investments granted to infrastructure modernisation projects being vital for positioning Croatia in the European transport system, but also in relation with the neighbouring states in the East.
Thus, within the EU, the main objective of SOP-T as regards Croatia is to grant investments to projects that have an impact on the railway infrastructure modernisation along TEN-T, the Corridors X and V and, at the same time, the purpose of the programme is to continue the preparation of the future modernisation projects and to improve inland waterway transport (on Corridor VII).
In the railway infrastructure segment, at the moment Croatia is initiating important projects for integration in the EU network, and the authorities in charge are elaborating future projects. According to the railway infrastructure manager (HZ Infrastruktura), EUR 3.3 Billion should be invested by 2017 in modernising the infrastructure. “The company will start the project implementation this very year by rehabilitating 100 km of railway line a year. HZ Infrastruktura will apply for funding from the EU’s cohesion and structural funds, as soon as Croatia joins the bloc in July”, stated HZ Infrastruktura’s CEO Darko Perisic. The first three projects concern the reconstruction of Dugo Selo-Krizevci railway line and the construction of Podsused-Samobor and Gradec-Sveti Ivan Zabno lines, all located in the central part of Croatia. In April, HZ Infrastruktura announced the launch of the tender for the modernisation of the railway line which connects the Hungarian border to Botovo and Dugo Selo, works on the line Koprivnica-Botovo-border being estimated at EUR 17 Million, the company announced.
The authorities also plan to invest EUR 2 Billion in the national section of Corridor X by 2010, to bring it to European standards. By the end of 2020, the Croatian segment of Corridor X will be modernised to allow the traffic of trains at speeds up to 160 km/hour, will be completely doubled and will be equipped with the GSM-R technology.
Certain sections have already been mo-dernised, others are being modernised and others are in the phase of design and will be included in applications for EU funds as of 2015.
In addition, works have kicked off on the reconstruction project for the Sisak railway station and the construction of a walkway over the Sisak-Caprag line, at a cost of EUR 6.1 Million.
The reconstruction of the railway station, worth EUR 5.25 Million, includes the upgrade of three tracks and a pedestrian crossing as well as the construction of the sewage and drainage, lighting, access systems etc. Works should be completed by the end of 2014.
By the end of the year, the infrastructure manager plans to implement a number of railway projects aiming at the reconstruction and modernisation of Zagreb-Sisak sections, part of the Turopolje-Velika Gorica track, the Sisak-Petrinja railway and Sisak-Caprag-Novska rail track. In addition, for next year, the company will launch reconstruction projects of tunnels in the Sisak region and estimates the completion of the modernization project of the Okucani-Novska railway section. Funds amounting to EUR 40 Million are awarded for its implementation, the contract including also signalling and telecommunications works for approximately 20 km of double line for the Okučani – Novska sections, in Okučani and Halt Rajić stations, on Corridor X.
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