The role of rail transport in the economic development of Croatia with a special emphasis on the modernization of the Zagreb-Rijeka railway

Željeznicom se naziva vid prometa koji se odvija kopnenim prostorom određenim linijama, odnosno prugama. Željeznički prijevoz predstavlja jedan od najpovoljnijih oblika prometa te ima važnu ulogu za sigurnost prometa, a i neznatno onečišćuje okoliš. Kada je riječ o ulaganju u željezničku infrastrukturu, bitno je spomenuti željezničku prugu Rijeka-Zagreb na kojoj se i danas radi u vidu modernizacije.Rijeka je najvažnija i najveća luka u Republici Hrvatskoj, a željeznička pruga Rijeka-Zagreb puštena je u promet 1873. godine. Danas ovaj prometni pravac ima strateški značaj kao i u prošlosti, iako je pruga stara oko 140 godina i kao takva zastarjela i neadekvatna. S obzirom na to, pokrenut je projekt za izgradnju nove nizinske pruge velike učinkovitosti. Modernizacija pruge Rijeka-Zagreb nosi značenje kao jedan od najvažnijih razvojnih projekata za Rijeku, ali i za cjelokupno hrvatsko gospodarstvo. Pretpostavlja se da će se novom prugom dobiti nova kvaliteta usluga u željezničkom prijevozu putnika te povećati konkurentnost Luke Rijeka. Na projektu nizinske pruge Rijeka-Zagreb i dalje se radi.Rail transport is a type of transport that takes place by land with specific lines or stripes. It is one of the most affordable forms of transport and plays an important role in traffic safety, and pollutes the environment in a very small manner. When it comes to investing in railway infrastructure, it is important to mention the railway line Rijeka-Zagreb on which the modernization is still in progress. Rijeka is the most important and the largest port in Croatia, a railway line Rijeka-Zagreb was opened to traffic in 1873. Today this transport route is of strategic importance as well as it was in the past, although the old railway line is about 140 years and, as such outdated and inadequate. Because of that, a project was made to build a new lowland high efficiency railway. Modernisation of the Rijeka-Zagreb railway is one of the most important development projects not only for Rijeka, but also for the Croatian economy. It is assumed that the new railroad will provide a new quality of services in railway transport of passengers and increase the competitiveness and the market position of the Port of Rijeka. The project for the lowland line Rijeka-Zagreb is still active