HŽ Putnički prijevoz signed contracts on purchase of 32 electric multiple units: 16 electric multiple units for urban and suburban transport and 16 electric multiple units for regional transport plus 12 diesel electric multiple units. The company Končar – Električna vozila is the manufacturer of 44 new multiple units.
The contracts were signed by Mr Dražen Ratković, CEO at HŽ Putnički prijevoz and Mr Ivan Bahun, CEO at Končar – Električna vozila. Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister, Branko Grčić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and EU funds and Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure attended the signing of the contract.
On that occasion Mr Dražen Ratković said:
„The contracts are worth HRK1,630,000,000.00). Our ultimate goal is passengers´ satisfaction. Thus they will be given the opportunity to travel on board new low-floor trains, which provide more space for passengers and where announcements about time at which train will be approaching railway station or stop will be made via display and public address speaker systems. These trains will be equipped with up-to-date heating and cooling systems and video surveillance cameras. They will be made accessible to passengers who use wheelchairs and those who travel by bicycles. We at HŽ Putnički prijevoz believe that there will be further purchases of such kind because our goal is to replace the entire old rolling stock (locomotives and coaches) by up-to-date multiple units, which brings along multiple benefits – more reliable rail vehicles, more accurate timetables, possibility to increase the frequency of trains and number of passengers, air pollution reduction at considerably lower operating costs.“
Multiple units are to be delivered and put into circulation in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Darinko Bago, CEO at Končar Elektroindustrija underlined the importance of the contracts for domestic industry:
„This transaction is not only important for passenger transport due to fleet rejuvenation – it is also important to the company Končar and entire Croatia because it is a Croatian product. There are only few companies in Europe which can grow and where such sophisticated products can be manufactured. Of course, there are companies where products can be manufactured under licence. This is however the development of the company Končar, the development we participate in, along with our partners at Končar. There is no success without enthusiasm, knowledge and capability to do something. We showed that we can produce trains on our own. The transaction will be accomplished within 3 years. It is expected that 3,000 people will be given the opportunity to actively take part in it, which is highly important both to us the suppliers and the entire Croatian economy.“
Investments in the purchase of new transport capacities represent an essential prerequisite for successful business and positioning of the company HŽ Putnički prijevoz in a competitive and financially sustainable system. Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure said:
„ The Government of the Republic of Croatia is – afte two terms of office – witness to a historic moment for the company HŽ Putnički prijevoz. The domestic company showed in this purchase competitiveness against major companies in Western Europe. The restructuring plan of the company involves purchase of new trains and improvements in logistics. HŽ Putnički prijevoz is about to sign a major contract on informatization of the entire system as well. The delivery of the first new train should make it possible for the customers to buy tickets via mobile device and online – to the satisfaction of end customers. This is a truly positive story coming from Croatia. When enthusiasm is combined with economic calculation, success is inevitable. It is my wish to take a ride on a new train from Zabok in 15 months – just like I did at the beginning of my term of office, by taking a train from Zabok.
BBI_2654.JPGOn that occasion Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia said:
„ An invitation to tender was issued and the domestic company was selected. The price was competitive – this business and financial cycle is closed and several years from now we will be travelling by modern trains in Croatia, which was not the case in a long time. Croatia is a small country – therefore, it has not got a great potential for a major passenger transport railway market such as the one in Germany, France or Benelux, where the population density is considerably higher (hundreds of inhabitans per km2). The needs however exist around urban centres, mostly around Zagreb and in parts of Slavonia. This is a significant story because many people will be hired and which is perhaps even more important – because knowledge will be preserved. By preserving knowledge, we keep pace with those who are stronger than us and those who are among the strongest in the world. Our happiness won´t be complete until the trains start running. “
After the contracts had been signed and speeches delivered, the delegation led by Prime Minister visited a prototype of electric multiple unit for regional transport, which operates since 2011. According to the prototype, a set of 16 trains out of the mentioned 44 trains will be built.
