The train ride from Bjelovar to Zagreb via the new Sveti Ivan Žabno – Gradec railway section will be free of charge from December 15 until the end of the year, as a way to celebrate the opening of the new track in Croatia, the first after more than 50 years.
According to zagrebinfo on December 10, 2019 – the agreement on transport co-financing was signed on Monday by Damir Bajs, representing Bjelovarsko-bilogorski county, and the President of Croatia Railways Passenger Transport, Zeljko Ukić. The co-financing for the free railway ticket is at a fifty-fifty ratio, and will apply to all passengers who depart from Bjelovar station to Zagreb via the new Sveti Ivan Žabno – Gradec railway line.
Zagreb to Bjelovar Ticket Prices Reduced for 2020
“The project our county launched 20 years ago has finally been completed. The Sveti Ivan Žabno – Gradec line is one of the most valuable EU projects in this region of Croatia, and it will allow Bjelovar residents to enjoy a suburban-like commute time to Zagreb,” Bajs revealed.
He added that the new railway line brings Bjelovarsko-bilogorski county out of transportation isolation. “I am also looking forward to the new trains which will provide passengers with an enhanced travel experience,” Bajs added.
Zeljko Ukić, President of Croatia Railways Passenger Transport, explained that, after free travel ends at the beginning of 2020, next year’s ticket price will be reduced by ten to 25 percent, since the journey from Bjelovar to Zagreb has been shortened by about 15 kilometers.
Zagreb to Bjelovar in 50 Minutes
“I believe that the new railway will mean a lot for the Bjelovarsko-bilogorski, Koprivnica-Križevci and Zagreb counties. The travel time to Zagreb has been reduced to one hour and 11 minutes. When construction is completed on the second track of the Dugo Selo – Križevci railway line it will be further reduced to 50 minutes,” Ukić pointed out. He added that seven daily trains will run on the new Zagreb – Bjelovar route, while five will run on the route from Bjelovar to Zagreb. The existing trains will be equipped with air-conditioning, and we are introducing a tilting train. Passengers will certainly enjoy a much more pleasant travel experience, especially during summer months,” he added.
The new Sveti Ivan Žabno – Gradec line is just over 12 kilometers long, with construction costs totaling 240 Million HRK (32.3 Million EUR), with 85 percent of those costs covered by EU funds.
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