Croatia’s first battery-powered electric train, manufactured by domestic company Končar, entered service on Tuesday, operating on the route between the capital Zagreb and the eastern town of Bjelovar.
“This is a historic day for Croatian railways and the economy,” Transport Minister Oleg Butković said at an inauguration ceremony in Bjelovar. “For the first time, we see a new battery-powered electric train manufactured by Končar with European funding.”
The train was built under the €17.1 million “Application of Green Technologies in Railway Passenger Transport” project. About €13.3 million was financed through Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), with the remainder covered by the state budget.
Butković said Croatia is currently investing nearly €1.5 billion in railway infrastructure modernisation, supported by European Union funds and loans from the European Investment Bank.
The train has 157 seats and space for 158 standing passengers. It includes wheelchair ramps, bicycle storage, an audio-visual information system, video surveillance, and free Wi-Fi. It can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h on electrified tracks and 120 km/h on non-electrified sections.
Končar CEO Gordan Kolak said the train would significantly reduce CO2 emissions, aligning with the country’s green transition goals.
Butković added that another fully battery-powered train is expected to enter service in the coming months.