EUROPE: The transport ministers of Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina have met to discuss topics including restarting passenger services between Zagreb and Sarajevo and the revival of the out-of-use Una line route between Zagreb and Split.
The 178 km Una line between Novigrad (Bosanski Novi before 1996), Bihać and Knin offered the shortest route between Croatia’s capital Zagreb and its second-largest city Split until the break-up of Yugoslavia, when the infrastructure including electrification equipment was destroyed or stolen during the wars of 1991-96. Electrification has since been restored on the Novigrad – Bihać section.
Cross-border complexity
The Una line crosses the border multiple times, with 119·4 km of the route in Bosnia & Herzegovina and 58·5 km in Croatia.
Any activities related to reconstruction are further complicated by the fact that the corridor connects Croatian cities but runs through both political entities of Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Federation and Republika Srpska.
Following the meeting with his Croatian counterpart Oleg Butković in Zagreb on January 21, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Minister of Communications & Transport Edin Forto said ’political discussions often prioritise road transport over rail, but I personally believe this approach needs to change. Bosnia & Herzegovina has a railway network that needs to be revitalised, and the Una line is certainly part of that process.
‘We have initiated the preparation of a study that will provide clear guidance on what needs to be done on the Una line, as well as an estimate of the project’s costs. It is extremely important for us to hear that this project has prospects and support from the Croatian side.’
