The electric battery railcar was produced as part of the project Application of Green Technologies in Passenger Rail Transport from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 – 2026. The train was manufactured by KONČAR Electric Vehicles. After factory testing, test rides on the railway tracks began on December 5, 2024. The first rides were done on the line Velika – Gorica – Lekenik – Velika Gorica. In the following period, all components of the new train will be tested, followed by obtaining the permits necessary for the train to be put into regular service.
It is a 60 meters long three-unit railcar with 150 seats. The train has three doors on each side, wheelchair access ramps, a bicycle area and a wheelchair accessible toilet, and the entire passenger area is under video surveillance. The train also has screens for displaying video content and is equipped with a modern information system.
The electric battery train will be used to transport passengers on both a non-electrified and electrified railway network within the Republic of Croatia. On the non-electrified railway network, batteries will be used for propulsion, reaching a maximum speed of up to 120 km/h, and on the electrified network, a classic power supply system will power the trains using 25 kV 50 Hz high-voltage equipment, with a maximum speed of up to 160 km/h. The batteries will be charged from the overhead contact line or using stable power connections that will be installed at railway stations in Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Virovitica and Pula. As the train moves while in contact with the overhead contact line, the energy obtained can be used to charge the battery and directly drive the electric train, and the energy produced by braking can be fed back into the power grid or used to charge batteries.
Soon, test rides are due to start for a electric battery train which will be used exclusively on non-electrified railway lines and charged through stable power connections.
