The HŽ Cargo train driver who ignored a signal at Škrljevo station on Sunday has been suspended. The train to Rijeka carried 45 passengers, and tragedy was averted by staff cutting the power supply.
A freight train operated by HŽ Cargo ran a red light on Sunday at 1:06 PM on the Zagreb–Rijeka line, precisely between the stations of Škrljevo and Meja. The train was supposed to yield to a passenger train arriving from the direction of Zagreb. Instead, it continued its journey.
The incident occurred less than 30 hours after a severe collision between a passenger and a freight train on the Gradec–Sveti Ivan Žabno section. A swift response by HŽ Infrastruktura staff prevented another accident; they cut the voltage in the overhead contact line, bringing both trains to a halt at a safe distance.
Rail traffic on that section of the line was suspended. The passenger train to Rijeka carried around 45 passengers, all of whom were taken care of and transported by bus to their destinations. Bus service was also arranged on the Rijeka–Plase route. Passengers were accommodated at Škrljevo station, and HŽ Putnički prijevoz asked for their understanding regarding the disruption. After the investigation at the scene was completed, the line was fully reopened for rail traffic at 5:35 PM.
Running a red light in rail traffic is considered one of the most serious violations. HŽ Cargo immediately suspended the freight train driver from duty. The measure remains in effect until the investigation is concluded.
The investigation will be conducted by a joint committee comprising representatives from HŽ Infrastruktura, HŽ Cargo, and HŽ Putnički prijevoz. The goal is to determine all circumstances that led to this event. HŽ Cargo stated: "If it is confirmed that this was human error, there will be consequences for the individual (summary dismissal) and for any other failures that come to light. This is the most serious safety breach that exists on the railway, and HŽ Cargo has no intention of downplaying such breaches." They added that train drivers receive continuous training with an emphasis on safety, but that previous checks have evidently not been sufficient, so the management has initiated an extraordinary procedure for enhanced on-site inspections and a review of the supervision and control model.
A day earlier, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, a passenger and a freight train collided near the village of Škrinjari. Police reports indicate 25 injured individuals, including both train drivers and a 43-year-old conductor.
The passenger train, traveling from Gradec to Sveti Ivan Žabno, was operated by a 61-year-old. The freight train from the opposite direction was operated by a 20-year-old driver. What is particularly concerning is the location of the accident: a section opened to traffic in December 2019, the first entirely new railway line in Croatia in 52 years.
The section is 12.2 kilometers long, designed for speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour. It is equipped with modern signaling, safety, and telecommunications equipment.
The latest events evoke memories of an incident from March 2025 near Lekenik. A freight train from HŽ Cargo also ran a red signal at the station, while a passenger train with around 200 passengers was approaching from the direction of Sisak.
The driver of the freight train, which was hauling 30 wagons each carrying approximately 40 tons of flammable liquid, reported that he could not stop the train. Dispatchers again responded by cutting the voltage in the overhead line. Both trains were stopped before a potential catastrophe.
At the site of Saturday's accident, work continued throughout the night. HŽ Infrastruktura spokesperson Željka Felbar stated that all wagons from the freight train had been removed. The freight train's locomotive and the passenger electric-battery train remained on the tracks; for their removal, due to the specific battery system, a specialized team from Končar was engaged.
Felbar confirmed that both trains would be removed during Sunday, after which track rehabilitation would begin. According to initial inspections, the track has not suffered severe damage; only a few sleepers need to be replaced. HŽ Infrastruktura expects to restore traffic on Monday, August 10.
In the rescue operation for the injured near Škrinjari, six ground emergency medical teams and a helicopter emergency service participated, confirmed Maja Grba-Bujević, director of the Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine. Initial information from HŽ Infrastruktura mentioned about twenty passengers on the train, while the police report a day after the accident cites 25 injured.
