HŽ Cargo and Railtrans Plan Intermodal Joint Venture

CROATIA: HŽ Cargo and Railtrans International have signed an MoU to establish an intermodal joint venture targeting more than 500,000 additional tonnes annually by 2028 from Croatian Adriatic ports.

MoU sets a 2028 port-hinterland target

HŽ Cargo announced the agreement on 30 July 2026. The memorandum creates a framework for cooperation with Railtrans International, but the partners have not yet formed the proposed company.

Their stated objective is to generate more than 500,000 tonnes of additional annual freight by 2028, moving cargo from Croatia’s Adriatic ports to markets in Central Europe. The figure is a target rather than an existing traffic volume.

The proposed company would develop port-hinterland intermodal freight. HŽ Cargo explains that intermodal transport moves freight in containers using at least two transport modes, although the MoU announcement does not specify the operating model or individual routes.

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Joint company still has to be established

The agreement remains preliminary: it is not an incorporated joint venture or a confirmed traffic contract. The next steps are to establish the company and define the services it would operate.

The announcement does not identify the ownership split, investment value, launch date, terminals, named Croatian ports or Central European destinations. Those details will determine how the 2028 volume target is to be pursued.

Railtrans International is based in Bratislava and provides rail freight and logistics services. Its precise operating responsibilities under the proposed venture have not yet been disclosed.

Until the company and its services are defined, the agreement establishes the intended direction of cooperation while leaving the future network, timetable and commercial commitments open.