Market Indicators: A Decrease in the Volume of Freight Transported by Rail and Steady Growth in Passenger Numbers

In the first quarter of the year, trains transported 5.3% more passengers and 25.8% less freight compared to the same period last year, which also had an impact on the revenue.

ZAGREB, 16 June 2025 - In the first quarter of this year, the rail transport sector in Croatia recorded an increase in the number of passengers carried and a decline in the volume of freight transported. The decrease in freight volume was primarily due to the suspension of rail traffic from the Port of Ploče to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which lasted until the end of January, as well as extensive infrastructure works on the railway network, frequent line closures, and reduced capacity on alternative routes. In addition to a general decline in the rail freight transport market, increased input costs for freight undertakings also led to a rise in transport prices, which in turn reduced the competitiveness of rail compared to other modes of transport.

Passenger Transport

HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. transported 5.3% more passengers than in the same period last year. At the same time, a 6% increase was recorded in the number of passenger-kilometres achieved.

Freight Transport

In freight transport, compared to the same period last year, the total volume of goods transported decreased by 25.8%, with a 7.4% decline in tonne-kilometres achieved. As a result of the lower freight volume, the revenues of freight undertakings fell by 8.2%.

HŽ Cargo d.o.o. recorded a 20.2% drop in the volume of goods transported and a 13.6% decline in tonne-kilometres. Other freight undertakings transported 29.1% less freight, with a 1.5% decrease in tonne-kilometres achieved. By the end of the first quarter, HŽ Cargo held a 39.5% share in the total volume of freight transported and a 45.6% share in total tonne-kilometres.

Out of 18 registered rail freight undertakings, 12 were operational, while six did not transport any goods during the reporting period.

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