Transagent freight train derails near Rijeka, Croatia

A freight train operated by private carrier Transagent derailed near the Meja railway station in the Rijeka area on Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 9:25 am as the train was transporting grain toward the port of Rijeka. According to reports from HŽ Infrastruktura, the driver had alerted dispatchers immediately before the derailment that the brakes had failed and the train could not be stopped.

Eleven wagons plunged into a ravine, while the locomotive and two remaining wagons stayed on the tracks. No injuries were reported, but the accident caused significant material damage and a complete halt to rail traffic on the Karlovac–Rijeka line, specifically between Plase and Meja. Replacement bus services have been organized for passengers.

Damir Lončarić, President of HŽ Infrastruktura, stated that the cause does not appear to be the state of the railway infrastructure, which is regularly monitored. He called for stricter inspections of locomotives and wagons owned by private operators. The Croatian Transport Accident Investigation Agency has been notified and is conducting an investigation into the technical failure. The railway union has criticized Transagent, raising concerns regarding the technical safety and maintenance of their wagons.