Market Overview
Croatia's HŽ Infrastruktura manages the national rail network, with HŽ Putnički prijevoz operating passenger services. The network connects Zagreb to Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and the Hungarian and Slovenian borders. A high-speed or upgraded rail link between Zagreb and Split — crossing challenging karst terrain — is a long-term aspiration and a topic of EU connectivity discussions. Zagreb's tram network, operated by ZET, is one of the more extensive in the region and is being modernised. Croatia joined the EU in 2013, bringing access to cohesion funds for rail modernisation. The country's Adriatic tourism sector creates seasonal passenger demand on coastal routes. Croatian rail is part of the pan-European Corridor Vc and Mediterranean Corridor, giving it strategic importance for EU freight flows.