Six Years After Delivery: Talgo Trains Finally on BiH Tracks

The Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will officially put the Talgo trainsets into passenger railway traffic on Monday, 26 September 2016. After successfully completed preparations and test runs, the train will, for now, operate according to schedule 714/715 on the Sarajevo-Doboj route, announced the Railways of FBiH, as reported by the Bosnian news agency Patria.

- We have named our new modern passenger train „BH train“ and we expect verification. In fact, that is its most important function – to connect the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina, quickly, safely and efficiently. On behalf of the Management of the Railways of FBiH, I thank everyone who contributed to the realisation of this long-awaited project – the workers of ŽFBiH, colleagues from the Railways of Republika Srpska, as well as the Regulatory Board of Railways of BiH - said Enis Džafić, General Director of ŽFBiH.

The „BH train“ will depart from Sarajevo at 16:28, arriving in Doboj at 19:35, while the train departs from Doboj at 03:49, arriving in Sarajevo at 06:53. Ticket prices will remain the same, increased by the reservation fee.

The stations where the train will pick up passengers are Sarajevo, Visoko, Kakanj, Zenica, Žepče, Zavidovići, Maglaj and Doboj. The capacity of the „BH train“ is 237 seats (200 second-class seats, 36 first-class seats and one seat for persons with disabilities). These are modern, fast tilting trains that provide passengers with exceptional comfort, internet access and other amenities modelled on the most modern European trains.

It is planned that the currently agreed line will be extended to Banja Luka. On this route, passengers from Tuzla travelling to Sarajevo and vice versa will also be able to have a quality connection in Doboj to the „BH train“, thus practically including Tuzla in this project. Also, upon completion of the overhaul of the so-called „southern line“, it is planned to introduce the „BH train“ on the Sarajevo-Mostar-Čapljina route, and during the summer period on the Sarajevo-Ploče route.

- Negotiations are underway with Croatian Railways to introduce the „BH train“ on the international line Sarajevo-Zagreb, with the entry into force of the new timetable for 2016/2017 in December this year, and also to re-establish railway traffic on the Sarajevo-Ploče route. In addition to the mentioned projects, there is also a plan to establish railway traffic on the Sarajevo-Bihać route, for which it is necessary to electrify another section of the line, and the required amount for this investment is 2.3 million KM. The Railways of FBiH have so far been the backbone of freight traffic and the development of the BiH economy, and with the introduction of the ´BH train' the Railways of FBiH want to become a leader in passenger traffic as well.

With the final implementation of this project, we will unblock railway passenger traffic and create an environment for the establishment and revival of passenger traffic on the entire domestic, regional and European railway corridor. Our goal is to connect Bosnia and Herzegovina and be an integral part of European transport flows - said Džafić.

The Railways of FBiH have fulfilled their task; it is now up to the relevant institutions to make this public enterprise fit for the citizens and the state of BiH.

The Railways of FBiH purchased the Talgo trainsets in 2005 with the help of a commodity loan from Spain. The loan was reportedly very favourable. The Railways of FBiH paid about 132 million KM for the trains. The trains were delivered five years later. The Spanish government fulfilled its part of the contract. But the trains were never put into service for six years.