September 12, 2019 - Will Split ever see an airport train? A look into why things are so behind schedule.
Splitski Dnevnik reports that just before the start of the tourist season, the City of Split solemnly marked the first ride of the "Split metro," as the train ran from Kopilica to the central station.
It was envisaged that the complete bus station would be moved to Kopilica and thus relieve the center of Split from unbearable traffic jams, especially during the tourist season. However, the inaugural ride was held, and the station stayed put.
You might recall that all this is only part of the mega-project connecting the Split airport with the city of Split, which, as expected, is delayed.
Split is nowhere near the construction of the new railway line, as no decisions have been made as to where it will be built. The project is also currently without European money.
The four-minute drive from Kopilica station to the city port and back runs 105 lines per day. From 11 June to 10 September, 5300 passengers were transported in both directions. During the 90 days of the tourist season, 9,450 trips were made, which means that on average, the train carried half a person, and with tickets costing 11 kuna, 58,300 kuna was earned.
While some of you might gather that operating empty trains hardly makes sense, the Split mayor sees no problem in these statistics.
"We are persistent in this and believe that citizens are adopting this short but very valuable traffic route every day," said Andro Krstulovic Opara, Mayor of Split.
Opara believes that this route will come to life when the link between Split and Split airport is in operation, though there have been no movements on the 150 million euro project yet.
"It may be going at a pace that is a little slower than expected. We are waiting for more approvals that are needed from the City of Kastela and its representatives,” said Mirjana Cagalj, the Project Coordinator.
Recall, the new railway should be built through Kastela.
The mayor of Kastela was offered three options. All three would use part of the existing railway to be reconstructed - and then, either from Kaštel Stari or from Kaštel Kambelovac, new tracks would be built to the airport, on three different routes. The authors of the project were in favor of the first, cheapest option, but this did not suit the people of Kastela.
"It was not acceptable to us because some buildings would be damaged there, fields would be damaged, one sanctuary would be destroyed, and we were looking for the best option," claimed Denis Ivanovic, Mayor of Kastela.
According to the second and third options, the old railway would be reconstructed right up to the Kaštel Kambelovac station, where the new railway would start. Kastela demanded that in this version, the railroad that runs through the city itself be dug into the tunnel, which would increase the price by 10 to 20 million euro.
This was not acceptable to the Ministry of Transport. However, the light at the end of the railway tunnel was turned on by Ivanovic, who presented a counter-proposal that resembles the first version with minor changes to the final route. Thus, a green light from Zagreb awaits.
"We have tested the soil, we have tested the terrain, and I believe that it will be acceptable now," Ivanovic is convinced.
It should all be done in five years, but as EU money is required to complete the project, and the route still unknown, passengers will continue to be taken by bus from the airport to the future temporary bus station in Kopilica.
However, citizens who live in the immediate vicinity of the future bus station are not so keen.
"The traffic will be half a meter away from the bedroom windows. When Chief Vojnovic was here, at the presentation of the future temporary bus station, when he came here, outside my door in courtyard, the only protection he offered were panels like on the highway,” said Edita Baric, a resident of Kopilica.
The mayor, however, is immune to the objections of fellow citizens.
“We are persistent in the decision to move part of the bus station to Kopilica. Kopilica will come to life the moment the rail traffic between Solin and Kastela increases,” said Andro Krstulovic Opara.
Opara urges citizens to be patient because buses are only a “temporary” solution.
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