Dignitaries gathered at Pula’s waterfront railway station for the ceremonial departure of a brand new, Croatian-made train bound for Kanfanar. The event signalled more than just a journey of 37km, but the start of a rail revolution in Istria.
The electric-diesel train, produced by Croatian firm Končar-Električna Vozila, is timetabled to continue all the way to the main town of Pazin twice a day. There will be a similar service between Pula and Buzet.
Trains can reach speeds of up to 120km/h and carry 167 passengers. They come with free WiFi, ramps for wheelchairs and cycle storage.
By 2025, a new fleet of 70 battery-run trains should be operation. It is envisaged that the Istrian routes will connect with the international line between Pula and Ljubljana in Slovenia, and so provide access to major hubs in Central and Eastern Europe.