In the first quarter, more rail passengers were transported but less goods

Rail passenger transport recorded a 43.8 % increase and rail freight transport a 11.1 % compared to the same period last year.

Zagreb, 21 June 2023 HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. recorded the 44 % increase of passengers transported and 118 % passenger kilometres compared to the same period of the previous year. The revenues of HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. increased by 10 % from the sale of transport tickets. The increase in the number of passengers and passenger kilometres was mostly due to the pilot project of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for more favourable public rail transport of regular students, which at a single price of a monthly ticket of EUR 9.95 (HRK 74.97), allows unlimited use of rail transport for about 113 thousand regular students in the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The pilot project covers daily train journeys in class 2 from their place of residence to their place of study and occasional travel, such as day trips, doctor visits, holidays and other trips. The pilot project is running from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023.

As regards rail freight indicators, after the first signs of a decline in the fourth quarter of 2022, this trend continued in the first quarter of this year, primarily due to the impact of international traffic flows. As a result, rail freight transport accounted for 11.1 % fewer goods, with 7 % less tonne-kilometres than in the same period of the previous year. HŽ Cargo d.o.o. carried 4.8 % fewer goods and accounted for 3.7 % less tonne kilometres, while other freight railway companies transported 15 % fewer goods and achieved 10.7 percent less tonne-kilometres. At the end of the first quarter, other freight undertakings accounted for 59 % of total goods transported and 45.9 % of tonne-kilometres. Out of a total of 18 freight railway undertakings, 11 were commercially active, while seven other rail freight operators did not carry goods in the first quarter of 2023.

Regardless of the decline of transport of goods, the revenues of freight undertakings from the transportation of goods grew by 9.8 % compared to the same period of the previous year. 

Indicators of the rail services market are available on the website of the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) at the following link.