HŽ Cargo and Slovak Railtrans International launch joint rail freight venture

HŽ Cargo and Slovak operator Railtrans International (RTI) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint company focused on intermodal rail freight. The partnership aims to add more than 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year by 2028, moving goods from Croatia’s Adriatic ports to central European markets.

The venture is presented as a strategic move in a consolidating European rail‑freight sector. It does not involve privatisation of HŽ Cargo; instead, it gives the Croatian carrier access to international corridors and clients, while RTI gains a partner with deep knowledge of the Croatian and regional network. HŽ Cargo President Dragan Marčinko said the model lets the national carrier “retain ownership while gaining the market access it has lacked,” and RTI co‑owner Robert Spišák added that the partnership “creates capabilities neither could achieve alone.”