What the €2.5 billion expansion means for Krk and the region
ZAGREB / RIJEKA – The transport landscape in Kvarner Bay is facing a historic upheaval. As transport minister Oleg Butković recently confirmed, funding for the new lowland railway to Rijeka is secured until 2028. With an investment volume of over €2.5 billion, it is the most important infrastructure project of the coming decade.
A boost for the port and the local economy
The new rail link is the decisive piece of the puzzle for realising the full potential of the port of Rijeka and the new “Rijeka Gateway” terminal. As the island of Krk is directly linked to the region’s logistics through the port of Omišalj and the adjacent industrial zones, the new rail connection brings clear benefits:
- Strengthening the business location: The region will become more attractive to international logistics companies, creating new jobs in the immediate vicinity of the island in the long term.
- Relieving the motorways: Efficient rail freight is the only way to cope with growing volumes of goods without the roads towards Zagreb and the access roads to the Krk Bridge being choked with lorries.
Modernisation for commuters and holidaymakers
In addition to the new freight line, Croatia is investing heavily in rail infrastructure nationwide. Around €1.5 billion is going into modernising the network. Croatian Railways’ (HŽ) fleet is also growing: around 70 new trains, including innovative battery trains, are already in service or on order.
For residents of the Kvarner region who commute between the coast and the interior for work, this means faster connections and a genuine alternative to the car in the medium term.
Croatia on the way to the European logistics elite
Minister Butković emphasised that 2025 was a key year: with the completion of the Rijeka Gateway project and the second tube of the Učka tunnel, Croatia has consolidated its position as the “gateway to Europe”. The new lowland railway will now cement this status for good.
Source: based on reports by Croatia Week.
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY NOW
Book your accommodation directly at URLAUBAUFKRK.COM – personal service at the best price.
