en.Wedoany.com Reported - Croatia's national railway construction investment plan has expanded from the €4 billion announced in 2023 to nearly €6 billion, with the goal of completing the reconstruction of the national railway network by 2035. HZ Infrastruktura is currently advancing railway construction projects worth over €1.5 billion nationwide.
In April 2026, HZ Infrastruktura signed a €279 million contract with Spain's Comsa Corporacion for the double-tracking, reconstruction, and electrification of the Hrvatski Leskovac to Karlovac section (44 km in total) on the Zagreb to Rijeka line. Railway construction is expected to commence in the summer of 2026 and be completed within three years. In May 2026, Indian contractor Afcons Infrastructure was selected to execute the €677 million Dugo Selo to Novska upgrade project, the largest single railway construction contract in Croatia's history. Meanwhile, the new lowland railway line from Zagreb to Rijeka, with an estimated value of €2.5 to €3 billion, has entered the design and procurement phase, with environmental permits obtained in 2025.
Croatia's railway network spans a total length of 2,617 km. For 2026 to 2027 alone, plans include the renewal of 439 km and the modernization of 222 km, with a target speed of 160 km/h on key corridors. Funding comes from the EU Connecting Europe Facility, the 2021-2027 Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, European Investment Bank loans, and Croatia's national budget. The budget is €318 million for 2026, increasing to €365 million for 2027.
The modernization of the passenger fleet has been completed on schedule, with approximately 70 new passenger trains in place, including Croatia's first battery-powered and electric-battery trains to enter operation. State Secretary of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Alen Gospoi, noted at the 2023 Zagreb conference that the government aims to increase rail freight volume from 16 million tonnes to over 25 million tonnes by 2033. As of 2023, approximately 17.5% of Croatia's railway network allowed speeds exceeding 100 km/h, while nearly 50% had a maximum permitted speed of 80 km/h. Railway construction will increase operating speeds and eliminate low-speed sections. Plasser and Theurer signed a €7.3 million contract for heavy rail maintenance vehicles in April 2026, and companies including DB Engineering and Consulting, Granova, TYPSA, and Egis Rail are involved in the design work for various lots.
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