Croatian railway infrastructure development

Croatia is advancing significant railway infrastructure developments aimed at enhancing regional and trans-European connectivity.

On October 1, 2026, Minister of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković announced a contract worth nearly 900 million euros for the Dugo Selo – Novska railway project. This project involves reconstructing 83 kilometers of track and adding a second track, which Butković described as the “largest contract in the history of Croatian Railways (HŽ).” The project is part of a larger effort to create an upgraded rail link from the Slovenian border through Zagreb to the Serbian border.

Following this, an initiative to establish the Adriatic-Ionian Railway Corridor was officially signed. This strategic project seeks to create a transport link connecting Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece. Key signatories included European Parliament Member Nikolina Brnjac, Zadar County Prefect Josip Bilaver, and State Secretary Žarko Tušek.

The corridor aims to link major ports, including Trieste, Koper, Rijeka, Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Ploče, Bar, and Durrës, to facilitate the movement of goods and passengers. The initiative focuses on reconstructing existing lines and constructing new tracks to enhance the connectivity of Croatian ports with the European market, supporting economic development and sustainable tourism.