PHOTOS: Croatia’s first electro-battery train launches on Zagreb–Bjelovar route

by croatiaweek
May 13, 2025
in News

Croatia’s first electro-Battery train (Photo: HŽPP)

A major step forward for sustainable transport in Croatia was marked yesterday as the country’s first electro-battery train officially entered service on the Zagreb–Bjelovar–Zagreb line.

The inaugural ride was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Oleg Butković, President of HŽ Passenger Transport Željko Ukić, and President of KONČAR – Electrical Industry Gordan Kolak, along with regional and local officials in Bjelovar.

This pioneering train is part of the Application of Green Technologies in Railway Passenger Transport project, funded through Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (2021–2026).

The €17.1 million initiative—€13.3 million of which comes from EU funding—also includes six charging stations across Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Virovitica and Pula, as well as the production of a battery train, HŽ Passenger Transport said in a statement.

All components were developed by KONČAR – Electric Vehicles.

(Photo: HŽPP)

Minister Butković hailed the occasion as a historic moment for Croatian railways and a testament to ongoing modernisation efforts.

“This is a proof of the broad modernisation of our railway system,” he stated, highlighting that 63 new low-floor trains have been added to the national fleet in recent years.

The new train operates using both contact wire and battery power. It runs the 44-kilometre electrified stretch to Gradec using overhead power, then switches to battery for the remaining 30 kilometres to Bjelovar—offering a green solution for non-electrified lines.

(Photo: HŽPP)

With 157 seats, 158 standing spaces, accessible toilets, bicycle storage, and free WiFi, the modern low-floor train is built for comfort and sustainability. It reaches speeds of 160 km/h on electrified lines and 120 km/h on battery.

(Photo: HŽPP)

Željko Ukić confirmed that plans are underway to acquire 13 more hybrid and alternative-fuel trains, while Gordan Kolak of KONČAR stressed the importance of energy optimisation and technological innovation in the project.