Four years of waiting are over! AŽD begins work on securing key Croatian line

Although the Czech technology company AŽD concluded a contract with HŽ Infrastruktura (Croatian Railways) in 2022 for the supply of signalling for the Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac project, it was not possible to start the implementation due to delays in selecting the construction contractor in a separate competition. These complications were only resolved on April 17, 2026, when HŽ Infrastruktura finally concluded a contract with the construction company COMSA after four years. This also paved the way for the start of work by AŽD. The original value of the contract of EUR 35 million will be increased by inflation over the last four years, and the implementation will take 36 months.

As part of the modernization of the signalling, AŽD will install fully electronic station interlocking equipment ESA 44 in Croatia, which will control railway traffic in three railway stations (Hrvatski Leskovac, Jastrebarsko, Karlovac) and in six stops. The delivery also includes an integrated line signalling system, securing 62 switches, installing an axle counting system and equipping all mentioned railway stations and track sections with more than 200 modern LED signals. AŽD also provides the supply of 8 railway level crossing systems, point heating systems, telecommunications and modifications to existing buildings under architectural protection. AŽD will also equip the entire line (total length of 44 km) with the unified European Train Control System ETCS level L1 with the extension of one Radio Block Centre for ETCS level L2. This section is part of the pan-European corridor (Zagreb – Rijeka).
 
„Croatia has been in long term the one of strategic territories where our company has always wanted to supply modern railway signalling technologies. Given the pressures we faced to cancel the contract, we are very pleased that we have resisted and managed to defend this first major project and now can start its implementation. For us, the project is both the culmination of considerable effort and a great challenge to demonstrate the quality of Czech systems and the professionalism of AŽD. The trust in our company, expressed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the ministers of the Croatian government when signing the contract, obliges us,“ said the director of AŽD for Croatia René Šigut.
 
By signing the contract, AŽD confirmed its significant position in the Balkan countries, where, in addition to Croatia, it is currently implementing large-scale projects in Serbia, Montenegro and also in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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