RAILWAY TRAFFIC RESUMES IN CROATIAN UNA RIVER AREA

SISAK, July 25 (Hina) - Regular passenger traffic will resume along the 42.5-kilometre long railway line from Sisak (50 kilometres southeast of Zagreb via Sisak Caprag, Sunja, Kostajnicki Majur and Hrvatska Kostajnica to Volinja in the Croatian Una river area by the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, as of July 26 (Saturday). On Friday, a special train with Croatian senior officials, Sisak- Moslavina County officials and local authorities' representatives aboard, passed from Sisak to Volinja travelling through former occupied Croatian areas for the first time after almost six years. By the reconstruction of the railway line from Sisak to Volinja, residents of the area can travel to Sisak, Zagreb and other Croatian areas cheaply and speedy. The resumption of railway traffic will help rebuild the war-damaged area as well. By the re-opening of this railway line, Sisak again became a railway junction, the town's mayor, Darko Pavlak, said. The Croatian Railways (HZ) director-general Marijan Klaric, said that Croatia had invested about 14 million kuna (over US$ 2 million) in repairs to the Sisak-Volinja railway section. Several hundred citizens of Sisak saw off the train, and a multitude welcomed it at the arrival in Volinja. Residents of Sisak Caprag, Sunja, Kostajnicki Majur and Hrvatska Kostajnica also welcomed the train when it passed there during its special trip. (hina) mš 251947 MET jul 97