Some cleaner additions to the Croatian rail system.
Congestion of roads in big cities requires careful planning and directing traffic flows of passengers towards those means of transport which protect the environment, reduce pollution and noise, and relieve the roads. Therefore, Croatian railway company HŽ Putnički Prijevoz advocates the principles of energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and economic viability, whose long-term objective is sustainable development of the intelligent transportation for the future, reports Poslovni.hr on October 23, 2015.
The advantages of rail transport are related to lower emissions to the atmosphere compared to other means of transport, lower power consumption, making less noise and creating less danger for the environment during the construction of the railway infrastructure. In order to increase the quality of its service, in January 2014 HŽ Putnički Prijevoz and Končar – Električna Vozila signed a contract on the production of trains for urban, suburban and regional transport.
Since April 2015, 10 electric trains for regional transport and one train for urban-suburban transport were put into service, and by the end of the year five additional urban and suburban trains will join them. Electric trains for regional transport can develop speeds of up to 160 kph and have 210 seats, while the total capacity is 419 passengers. Electric trains for urban and suburban transport develop speeds of up to 160 kph and have 133 seats, with the total capacity of 505 passengers.
The trains are equipped with multiple sets of double doors on each side, with movable ramps for entry and exit of persons in wheelchairs and with dedicated space for bicycles. Passenger information system is fully adapted for people with disabilities, so the stops at railway stations are announced by voice messages and on displays. The new trains provide superior comfort and reliable mobility and achieve the goals of HŽ Putnički Prijevoz’s development policies.
Rail transport is the safest form of land transport and has all the characteristics of the transportation of the future, which will provide to cities a significant contribution to their sustainable development, while improving the mobility and quality of life for their citizens.
