Croatia - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 10 December 2023 to 14 December 2024. Standard abbreviations are explained here.

Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3) by M.G. Ball.

Obscure services

Ogulin Avoiding Line: Oštarije - Oštarije Ravnice

[70] (ERA-E 100C2; ERA-R 220A5) HR24/1

This curve linking the Zagreb/Karlovac and Knin/Split lines east of Ogulin allows fast trains to avoid reversal there.

D		B 1840	Vukovar - 00:25 Oštarije - Split
D		B 1880	Osijek - 02:18 Duga Resa - Split
D		ICN 521	Zagreb Gl. kol. - 09:00 Oštarije - Split
		ICN 523	Zagreb Gl. kol. - 16:59 Oštarije - Split
D		B 1841	Split - 01:35 Gospić - Vukovar
D		B 1881	Split - 02:36 Gospić - Osijek
D		ICN 520	Split - 13:20 Josipdol - Zagreb Gl. kol.
D		ICN 522	Split - 18:46 Plaški - Zagreb Gl. kol.

Zagreb Gl. kol Avoiding curve

[10, 60] (ERA-E 100B3; ERA-R 216B5) HR24/2

This curve allows trains to run direct from Slovenia towards the Split or Rijeka lines and was used regularly for the first time in 2023.

Note A	MThSO from Zagreb	EN 1153	Wien Hbf - 00:31 Zagreb Zapadni kolodvor - Split
Note A	MThSO	EN 1152	Split - 23:55 Ostarije – Wien Hbf

Note A: Runs southbound leaving Zagreb and northbound leaving Split on Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 4 - 9 May, 16 - 23 May, 30 May - 6 June, 13 - 20 June, 27 June - 19 September, 26 September - 3 October 2024. Services operated by ÖBB Nightjet

Trams

See Croatia - Tram services over obscure routes

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday.

13	Zabok - Krapina	Most services now operated by buses, leaving just two each way on Sundays and one from Krapina on weekdays
17	Macinec - Središče (Slovenia)	Two return services Monday to Friday, one on Saturday and Sunday
18	Mursko Središće - Lendava (Slovenia)	A service has been restored over this line in the 2023/24 timetable comprising two pairs of trains, one M-F and the other SuX
20	Koprivnica - Gyekenyes (Hungary)	One return service daily throughout the year
30	Osijek DG - Dalj - Erdut	Monday to Friday only, two return services
40	Tovarnik - Šid (Serbia)	HŽPP service suspended in 2020 due to Covid and not reinstated. Seasonal service operated by Optima Express uses this route
41	Daruvar - Pčelić	One return service daily, except none southbound on Saturdays and two on Sundays
42	Pleternica - Čaglin	Monday to Friday only, two return services
70	Plaški - Gospić - Knin	One return service daily, except during summer months and holiday weekends when up to five return services operate
74	Ploče - Metković - Čapljina (Bosnia-Herzegovina)	A summer-only services runs Fridays to Sundays in 2024 from 28 June to 01 September, operated by ŽFBH (initially advertised as starting 01 June)
80	[Rijeka] - Permani - Ilirska Bistrica (Slovenia)	Two return services daily, to/from Ljubljana plus summer dated service to/from Villa Opicina
90	Buzet - Rakitovec (Slovenia)	One return service daily between 24 April and 29 September

Deletions since previous edition

HR23/3	Zagreb east side freight line, Ranžirni kolodvor (Marshalling Yard) and Zagreb Klara - Remenitec (Delta odv)	Short term diversionary use during engineering works
HR23/4	Zagreb eastern freight avoider [Zagreb Glavni kolodvor-] Čulinec - Sava Jn - Velika Gorica	Short term diversionary use during engineering works
21	Križevci - Sveti Ivan Žabno	There are now three services in each direction so no longer qualifies as sparse
30/47	Erdut - Bogojevo (Serbia)	Services previously included in timetable but suspended, now removed completely from timetable