December 22, 2022 - Croatian Railways: three electric trains for urban and suburban transport produced in Končar were put into traffic today, after which a contract for the purchase and sale of battery trains and stable energy connections was signed.

As Index writes, the new trains are part of the rolling stock renewal project of Croatian Railways Passenger Transport (HŽ PP), which is implemented in accordance with the Transport Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia from 2017 to 2030, is co-financed from the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020, and is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 - 2026 (NPOO).

The trains were produced by Končar.

The total estimated value of the project is HRK 1.3 billion, and the support from the European Union is HRK 880.3 million. HŽ PP plans to modernise the rolling stock with 21 new electric trains as part of this project. Eleven trains are planned for urban and suburban transport and ten for regional transportation.

The trains were manufactured by Končar, one of which had its ceremonial first run from Zagreb's central station to Dugo Selo and back. After today's release of the first three trains for urban and suburban transport, eight more trains will be delivered to run in the Zagreb area.

The delivery of regional trains, which will run on electrified tracks in Croatia, will follow after that. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure Oleg Butković said at the release that the renovation of the railway infrastructure is a key project that will mark the next 10 to 12 years.

The plan is to introduce 70 new trains into traffic by 2025

"Such a project follows a natural course, and it is good that the procurement of 21 new trains is financed with the help of European funds, and this is only the first delivery of trains," said Butković. He added that all funds available from the EU and national and credit funds will primarily be directed to renovating the railway infrastructure and purchasing new trains.

The plan is to introduce 70 new trains into traffic by 2025, said Butković. The president of Končar electric vehicles, Josip Ninić, noted that the key subsystems of the new trains were developed and produced in the companies of the Končar group, and numerous other local companies were also involved.

As part of the "Application of green technologies in railway passenger transport" project, a contract for purchasing and selling battery trains and stable energy connections was also signed on Wednesday.

HRK 100 million has been secured from NPOO for the purchase of new battery electric motor and battery trains and six stable and energy connections that will be installed at the stations of Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Virovitica, Pula, and the total value of the project is HRK 129 million.

The aim is to improve local and regional connectivity and mobility for better access to the labour market and services in functional centres and to ensure more efficient and competitive passenger transport, say HŽ PP.

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