Croatian operator LOG Rail and Željeznice Republike Srpske (ŽRS) ran a test train between Croatia and Serbia on an alternative route bypassing the congested Tovarnik–Šid border crossing. Despite adding 200 more kilometres to the journey, transit time was reduced by a day compared to the usual itinerary, LOG Rail CEO Zlatko Martić told RailFreight.com.
The train entered Bosnia via the Volinja–Dobrljin crossing, traversing the country before entering Serbia at Zvornik Novi–Brasina. Although the operation was a trial, it demonstrated the potential of an alternative route when congestion at Šid makes conventional services commercially unattractive.
“We are going to run more trains via this route, and in a few months we will be able to assess its real advantages,” Martić added. “For us as operators, saving a day in transit time is significant in terms of costs, even though the direct costs are higher than on the route via Šid, given the longer distance and the need for diesel traction on some sections.”
Complex solution
Recently, delays of two or three days at Tovarnik–Šid have tied up locomotives and wagons and increased operating costs. On the other hand, the route via Bosnia-Herzegovina is considerably longer and operationally more complex, despite the good results from the pilot train.
The conventional Zagreb–Tovarnik–Šid–Beograd route is approximately 428 kilometres long and fully electrified. The route via Bosnia-Herzegovina, instead, covers around 685 kilometres and is electrified only until Doboj, meaning that diesel traction is required to reach Serbia, which increases costs, Martić underlined.
Reversals are also necessary at Doboj, Bosanska Poljana and Ruma, adding shunting costs and potentially extending journey times. On the Croatian section, gradients reach 16‰, which could necessitate double-heading for heavier westbound trains.
ŽRS invites more users
The route’s long-term viability will depend on transit times, train-path availability, border procedures, traction arrangements and infrastructure charges. It remains to be seen whether it will become a regular alternative for freight serving the ports of Rijeka and Koper or remain an occasional diversion. ŽRS has invited other Croatian and Serbian freight operators to use the route.