HZ Infrastuktura, the Croatian rail infrastructure manager, has completed the modernisation of the 16 km Zabok – Krapina rail section, part of Zaprešić – Zabok railway modernisation project which is financed by the European Union.
On September 4, 2024, HZ Infrastuktura, has put into traffic the section that was modernised by installing new rails and sleepers, renovating 22 rail crossings, and installing new signalling systems. The section was also electrified and now allows trains to run at 80 km/h, instead of 40 km/h, with the journey time now taking only 15-20 minutes.
EUR 15 million was the value of the project that was financed by country’s state budget and the modernisation and rehabilitation contract has been signed in July 2023 with Swietelsky.
In the last decade, EUR 38 million have been invested in railway infrastructure in the Krapina-Zagorje County, of which EUR 24 million are from EU funds. In the next years, HŽ Infrastruktura plans to invest another EUR 25 million in Krapina-Zagorje County.
In addition, EUR 85 million was invested in the modernisation and electrification of Zaprešić – Zabok railway line crossing the Zabok-Krapina County and partly through Zagreb County.
Croatia has completed the modernisation of the 24 km Zaprešić – Zabok railway, part of the line for regional traffic R201 Zaprešić – Čakovec. At the end of 2017, HŽ Infrastruktura signed the grant agreement with the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (MSTI) and Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) for the financing of the project through the Operational Programme “Competitiveness and Cohesion” 2014 – 2020 (OPCC). EUR 102.6 million was the value of the agreement and the total eligible amounted to EUR 81.5 million, which is the maximum amount for co-financing of eligible costs of the project of which EUR 69.3 million, or 85 percent, is co-financed from the OPCC and the remaining amount of EUR 12.2 million EUR, or 15 percent, is co-financed from the state budget of Croatia.
In June 2018, HŽ Infrastruktura and Swietelsky signed a EUR 74.4 million work contract and in the same month, a EUR 2.1 million service contract has been signed with DB Engineering & Consulting.
The completed works allow now passenger trains to run at up to 120 km/h and better integrate suburban rail transport in the wider area of Zagreb, shortening the travel times while increasing transport capacity. This also led to the elimination of restrictions for freight transport. The construction of parking lots for cars and the installation of bike racks at bus stops and stations near public bus stops enables better connectivity and competitiveness of rail transport, considering the fact that the project extends through Zagreb and Krapina and Zagorje counties. The introduction of electric multiple units is also contributing to environmental protection through reducing gas emissions and noise protection.
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