Paul Bradbury Explores Croatian Railways - Zagreb to Dugo Selo

A strong rail network is an important component in a country's economy. It is no secret that the rail system and connectivity in Croatia was a lot better, quicker and more popular 40 years ago than today. As a result, locals have largely written off the train as a reliable means of transport.
So how bad is it, and is it all bad? In the first of an occasional series, we take a closer look at the good, the bad, and the not so bad of train travel in Croatia today. We kick off with a short trip east of Zagreb to Dugo Selo.
#Paulbradburycroatia

[@goranpavkovic]

Big shout out to my favorite Croatian Minister of Tourism... ‼Keep up the good job sir...

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha no thanks - having too much fun doing what I am doing

[@krunoslavkovacec1842]

Karlovac to Zagreb takes an hour and a half. Thanks for experiencing the everyday torutre Croats have to go through and sharing it, Paul

[@PaulBradbury]

It is slower than it should be, but I quite enjoyed it to be honest, a lot more relaxing than the bus

[@cunjoz]

@@PaulBradbury It sure is relaxing when you have time to relax and enjoy the view. However...

[@fapmashina1]

Another great and usually so funny video, esp. part about the Orient Express since I'm actually from Slavonski Brod! Paul, spot on! 👍👍👍

[@PaulBradbury]

Lots more coming if you want to subscribe

[@TrazomGV]

Excellent sense for humor! I enjoy your approach, sir!

[@PaulBradbury]

Lots more coming if you want to subscribe

[@davorlekenik9563]

You are my man !!!

[@doriancroatia2054]

Great and very informative video. Section between Zagreb Borogaj and Dugo Selo was reconstructed in 2014. Before that, operating speed was cca 60 km/h on the open part of the track, nowadays is 140 km/h max (while suburban trains usually don't run that fast because they serve every station along the way). If you haven't already, you should really do Zagreb - Zabok train ride when you'll catch time. Section between Zapresic and Zabok (2nd largest town in Krapina-Zagorje County) was modernized/electrified between 2018 and 2021, and today is one of the best railway routes in Croatia infrastructure-wise. Ride from Zagreb to Zabok nowadays takes only cca 45 minutes, while limited-stop services cover this distance in about 30 minutes.

[@PaulBradbury]

Yes, I can see some positives although there is a long way to go

[@ttr6398]

I commute to work by train and live in Dugo Selo. It really grinds down a persons level of tolerance when you have to wait up to 20 min every day after work day and you enter your home 20 min later than usual.

[@HladniSjeverniVjetar]

The local trains are probably mostly on time and ok, the national lines are the issue... specially going over Lika to Dalmatia.... xD

[@PaulBradbury]

Yes. This is part of a series looking at the good, the bad, and the not so bad. There is a lot of difference in the quality of the product.

[@vladetic3]

Turning this into a series is a fantastic idea. I'm looking forward to learning more at each stop along the way!

[@PaulBradbury]

Not sure about a series but there will be more

[@limaalfacharlie5801]

Hi Paul, nice video as usual 💪 Actually, there is another place in Croatia where trains are quicker than cars. It's the train you took in the video. Usually, Zagreb suburban trains (Harmica/Savski Marof - Zapresic - Zagreb main station - Dugo Selo) are quicker than car, especially during rush hours. The problem is that they are often delayed or sometimes completely cancelled, so in the end it depends on how lucky you are :)

[@goldeneagle5820]

Delays are mostly beacuse of ongoing reconstruction of railroads, or beacuse of they are NOT YET reconstructed! 160 km/h where they ARE and 40-60 km where they are NOT.

[@PaulBradbury]

Where does the train actually go at 160km/h in Croatia today?

[@maincoon7241]

@@PaulBradbury Somwhere on Novska-Vinkovci-Tovarnik route

[@doriancroatia2054]

@@PaulBradbury Between Novska and Okučani and also between Ivankovo and Tovarnik via Vinkovci, in the eastern-most part of the country. Those are all relatiely short segments distance-wise.

[@Bbart77]

I heard a fun theory about our trains... So, Croatia invested a lot into the road network and as you probably know or heard, the guys that ordered the construction took almost 100% more from the original price for themselves (the famous painting the tunnels twice saying). Anywho, the thing is that we are still in debt because of it and a lot of it is still owned by corporations that built it, so if we invested into trains everybody would ride trains as we are a small country and it would be awesome if you could jump on a train and be on the shore in an hour (which is completely possible). So, they are deliberately not investing so people use cars and pay for the roads.

[@dole7959]

thats a dumbass theory, the reality is that the whole network needs billions upon billions of euros to get it operating with trains that can go 160/km an hour. a lot of the current lines go through one track instead of two tracks which further complicates things. The doubling of the railway track from RIjeka to Zagreb which should enable the train ride to be a bit longer than an hour, that alone would cost probably more than 4 billion euros and would be completed only in 6-7 years.

[@Bbart77]

@@MarioPetrinovich awesome insight! thanks :)

[@tito6857]

You should take a trip to Sisak, it takes about 50 minutes and the train is never late more than 5 minutes

[@PaulBradbury]

I willl at some point - lots of places on the list

[@stjepangorera941]

Great short video about Croatian railways...🍃🌱☘🍀🌿🍂🌼🍁🌺🦋🐋🦕🇭🇷🇪🇺🌍❤🥰🍇🍌🍓🥦🌽🌲

[@PaulBradbury]

Lots more coming if you want to subscribe

[@Igor-ps5cd]

Last year, Croatian railways were two years late.😂

[@ZvonimirZelenika]

Which is about 2 minutes per train operated - so sounds a lot, but actually isn't.

[@Igor-ps5cd]

I hoped it would sound funny 😉

[@ivangreguric908]

DUGO SELO

[@ckdanekfan3397]

Paul... We need a London tube in Zagreb (a smaller version). You made some things happen in Croatia, with your bright critics. Can you do something about that too?

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha, thanks for the confidence, but not sure anyone would listen to me even if such an idea was economically viable. A light rail connection from east to west of zagreb on the existing line would be much more affordable and make a lot more sense.

[@ckdanekfan3397]

@@PaulBradbury that's what I meant actually... Well make a video about Zagreb traffic. And then our mayor should do something about it.

[@josip-hanssekulic9204]

Neka tebe da pokazes nezahvalnim Hrvatima kako je zapravo njima dobro.

[@saff3356]

Lik se vozi zagrebačkom prigradskom željeznicom, naravno da će iskustvo biti vrhunsko.

[@PaulBradbury]

Actually I try to present things as real rather than stereotypes - here is another train experience which you could hardly describe as functioning www.index.hr/magazin/clanak/britanac-se-vozio-hrvatskim-vlakom-koji-je-najsporiji-u-europi-pogledajte-voznju/2529994.aspx

[@PaulBradbury]

As the video says, it is part of a series looking at different aspects of the railways - Here is Osijek to Erdut, for example www.index.hr/magazin/clanak/britanac-se-vozio-hrvatskim-vlakom-koji-je-najsporiji-u-europi-pogledajte-voznju/2529994.aspx

[@user-vr6to7jo7f]

YOU MUST TRY VARAŽDIN ZAGREB, HORROR, 100 KM, 3,5 HOURS.

[@PaulBradbury]

It is on the list