It’s hard to believe, but for most of the year, there are no trains between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For several years now, a Sarajevo – Ploce train has been running on weekends during the summer season, and it is very popular.
Due to the political situation, it is hard to expect any improvement in the railway connections between the two countries in the near future. As an ordinary railway enthusiast observing the situation, it is incomprehensible to me why there are no direct trains between Zagreb and Sarajevo, or at least Zagreb and Banja Luka.
Last updated: 30.07.2024
Railway border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Metković HŽ – Čapljina ŽFBH
Ličko Dugo Polje HŽ – Martin Brod ŽFBH
Volinja HŽ – Dobrljin ŽRS
Slavonski Brod HŽ – Srpski Brod ŽRS
Slavonski Šamac HŽ – Šamac ŽRS
Gunja HŽ – Brčko ŽRS
Trains between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – useful websites:
Croatian Railways – official website
Željeznice Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine – official website
Željeznice Republike Srpske – official website
Train travel in Croatia – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a comprehensive guide
Train from Zagreb to Sarajevo
Currently, there is no train between Zagreb and Sarajevo. A long time ago there were two trains daily – a daytime train and overnight train.
Passenger trains between two capitals were inaugurated after civil war in 2002. International daytime train from Zagreb to Sarajevo stopped at most important stations. It was comprised of Bosnian and Croatian carriages without air-conditioning. Average speed was decent, there were not many passengers outside the summer season but some of locals travelled from Banja Luka, Zenica and Visoko to Sarajevo. Journey time was about 7-8 hours.
It was possible to organize day trip from Zagreb to Banja Luka.
An overnight train between both capitals consisted seating carriages only but the train was usually was half-empty, except for the stretch from Zenica to Sarajevo, used by commuters. In Sarajevo passengers can continue journey in Sarajevo – Ploče train (later shortened to Čapljina). Overnight train was ceased earlier that daytime train.
Daytime train from Zagreb to Sarajevo was suspended on 11 December 2016 without any explanation.
Bosnian Railways purchased Talgo trainsets with sleeping carriages for overnight train between Sarajevo and Zagreb.
Trains from Sarajevo to Ploče
Only trains between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina run seasonally from Sarajevo to Ploče. The route is scenic, especially the section between Sarajevo and Mostar along Neretva river. Trains were reinstated on 01 July 2022 but only on weekends. Trains are operated by ŽFBH and passengers are carried by comfortable, air-conditioned Talgo trainsets.
In the past, there were direct trains from Sarajevo to Ploče. Passengers who arrived to Sarajevo by an overnight train from Zagreb can change trains and continue their journey towards Ploče. Trains ran daily but were discontinued about 2013. Next year domestic train connection Metković – Ploče was ceased. The railway line Metković – Ploče is isolated from rest of the railway network of Croatia.
Unska Pruga
In the past, passenger trains to the Adriatic Sea ran on a different route than they do now. The route between Bihać and Knin, known as Unska Pruga, was constructed much earlier than the railway line through Ogulin and Gospić. Until the outbreak of the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, trains such as Belgrade – Split with direct carriages to Šibenik and Zadar, as well as car-carrying sleepers, ran through Bihać.
Currently, the railway line crosses the border seven times between Bihać and Knin. The line was badly damaged during civil war (1991-1995) but it was repaired. There were plans to reinstate passenger trains between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina but the plans failed. Croatian section was closed in 2010 due to poor condition of the tracks.
In 2017 both countries signed an agreement about rehabilitation of the entire route Bosanski Grad (Novi Grad) – Knin. Since the signing of the agreement, there has been no information about the commencement of engineering works, and no international train has been launched. Knowing the specifics of the former Yugoslav countries, the renovation of the line will probably never begin, and if it does, it will take many years to complete.
The Unska Pruga is very scenic and it has a huge tourist potential.
Other border crossings:
There are no trains between Gunja and Brčko. It is possible to take regional train from Vinkovci to Gunja and cross the border by foot. There is a train station in the town of Brčko, but no trains have been running there for several years. In the past, it was possible to take a train from there to Tuzla and another places. The Željeznice Republike Srpske, which serves the route, has not operated trains between Tuzla and Brčko for a long time. It may change in the future. The distance between railway station in Gunja and center of the town of Brčko is about 4 km.
There are no trains between Slavonski Brod and Bosanski Brod. Regional trains from Osijek end at Slavonski Brod station. You need to cross the border on your own – the distance from the railway station Slavonski Brod to the Bosnian town of Brod is about 3 km. Unfortunately, there is no train station on the Bosnian side. However, the attraction in itself is the exploration of the city divided between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The nearest train station is 40 kilometers from the city, and the nearest operational train station is about 60 kilometers away. You can find ruins of the former railway station.
There are no passenger trains to Slavonski Šamac in Croatia and to Šamac in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (it may change in the future, but there is no chance for cross-border trains).
The curious situation is on the railway border crossing Volinja – Dobrljin. Croatian trains from Zagreb and Šišak end in Volinja – the last station before the Bosnian border. Trains from Novi Grad (Bosanski Grad) operated by Željeznice Republike Srpske terminate at Dobrljin station – the last station before Croatian border. The distance between railway stations Volinja and Dobrljin is about 4-6 kilometers but there are no cross-border trains between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is understandable for me.
