Serious Train Collision Near Škrinjari
Twenty-five people were injured in Saturday's collision between a passenger and a freight train. HŽ Infrastruktura expects the line to reopen on Monday after repairs.
Twenty-five people were injured in Saturday's collision between a passenger and a freight train. HŽ Infrastruktura expects the line to reopen on Monday after repairs.
Following the severe collision between a passenger and a freight train that occurred on Saturday, August 9, 2026, on the Sveti Ivan Žabno-Gradec line, workers spent the entire night clearing the aftermath. According to HŽ Infrastruktura, the removal of both trains is expected to be completed during the day, and the line could reopen on Monday, August 11.
According to HŽ Infrastruktura spokesperson Željka Felbar, all freight cars have already been removed. The freight locomotive and the passenger electric-battery train remain at the scene, and the latter requires the arrival of experts from Končar due to its special battery system.
Felbar stated that both trains are expected to be removed during Sunday, followed by track repair. Based on information so far, the track has not sustained major damage. The line is expected to be operational again on Monday, August 11, after replacing several sleepers and carrying out necessary works, as stated by HŽ Infrastruktura.
In the accident that occurred on Saturday around 10 a.m., near Škrinjari, a total of 25 people were injured. According to the Koprivnica-Križevci police, the passenger train was operated by a 61-year-old driver coming from the direction of Gradec toward Sveti Ivan Žabno, while the freight train was led by a 20-year-old driver from the opposite direction.
Among the injured are both drivers and a 43-year-old conductor. They received medical care in hospitals, and the severity of their injuries will be determined once medical documentation arrives. As reported by the police, the injured were assisted in health institutions, and the precise severity of injuries will be known upon receipt of medical documentation.
The on-site investigation was led by the deputy of the Municipal State Attorney's Office in Bjelovar, with expert assistance from police officers and other competent services. Among them were investigators from the Air, Maritime, and Railway Traffic Accident Investigation Agency. The cause of the collision is not yet known, and the investigation will determine all circumstances of the railway accident. According to unofficial information that has emerged publicly, human error is suspected, but there is no official confirmation as of yet.
