In the fourth quarter of 2024, more passengers and less cargo were transported by rail

Rail transport saw a 16.1% decrease in cargo and a 14.2% increase in passengers compared to the same period last year.

ZAGREB, 10 March 2025 - In the fourth quarter of 2024, rail transport in Croatia recorded a significant increase in the number of passengers and a decline in the volume of cargo. The decrease in cargo was primarily due to the interruption of rail traffic from the port of Ploče to Bosnia and Herzegovina, caused by floods and damage to the railway in Jablanica in October 2024.

Passenger Transport

HŽ Passenger Transport Ltd. transported 14.2% more passengers compared to the same period last year. At the same time, there was a 51.2% increase in passenger kilometres, indicating more passengers on longer routes and increased demand for passenger rail transport.

Freight Transport

In freight transport, compared to the same period last year, a total of 16.1% less cargo was transported, along with a 0.9% decrease in tonne kilometres. Despite the reduction in cargo transport, freight undertakings saw a 2.1% increase in revenue.

HŽ Cargo Ltd. recorded a 3.7% decrease in the volume of transported cargo but a 4.1% increase in tonne kilometres. Other freight undertakings transported 23.1% less cargo, with a 5.6% decrease in tonne kilometres. By the end of the year, HŽ Cargo accounted for 41.5% of the total amount of cargo transported and 50.8% of the tonne kilometres.
Out of a total of 18 registered freight rail undertakings, 13 were operational, while five undertakings did not transport any goods during the period.

Market indicators for rail services are available on the website of the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) via the following link.