ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - A bill on Croatian Railways (HZ) put into parliamentary procedure foresees the splitting of the company into three separate ones. The bill would come into force in 2005 and is introduced because of the
liberalisation of railway services in the European Union and the harmonisation of Croatian and EU legislation.
ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - A bill on Croatian Railways (HZ) put into
parliamentary procedure foresees the splitting of the company into
three separate ones. The bill would come into force in 2005 and is
introduced because of the liberalisation of railway services in the
European Union and the harmonisation of Croatian and EU
legislation. #L#
The HZ would be transformed into three companies. One would be
involved with the infrastructure, the second with passenger travel
and the third with freight. The bill foresees the possibility of
ensuring direct financing for the railways with a 60 lipa excise on
fuel which would ensure 1.2-1.3 billion kuna (between EUR156 mln
and EUR169 mln) in 2004, while from 2005 the excise would be paid
into the railway infrastructure company that would be owned by the
state.
The project to upgrade and restructure HZ is estimated at 15.2
billion kuna (EUR1.98 bln), is of the highest priority, and
corresponds to the highway construction project in both importance
and investment. This is the first time in 15 years that a concept to
develop the railways has been conceived in line with adapting to the
EU, the transport and communications ministry reported.
HZ's objective is to transport 10 million tonnes of freight and 40
million passengers annually starting from 2007, as well as
increasing its revenue from freight and passenger travel by an
annual 5.7 per cent.
With regard to funding and the management of local railways,
between 2003 and 2007 it is foreseen that the state will invest
around 750 million kuna (EUR97.4 mln), or around 150 million kuna
(EUR19.5 mln) annually, for local railways.
(EUR1 = 7.7 kuna)
(hina) sp/ha sb