The results of a project to develop a preliminary design and accompanying studies for the reactivation of the Una railway were presented at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This provides Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the first time, with a comprehensive expert basis for continuing activities aimed at rehabilitating one of the country’s most important railway lines..
The presented project includes a complete pre-investment package covering transport, technical, economic, and environmental assessments and studies for the entire 177.9-kilometre Una railway route, of which 119.4 kilometres are located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The study results confirm that the rehabilitation of the Una railway is technically feasible, environmentally acceptable, and capable of delivering significant social and economic benefits.
As the optimal solution, the study recommends modernising the railway for operating speeds of between 80 and 100 km/h, together with electrification and modern European signalling systems. The first phase is proposed to involve the restoration of railway services on the Novi Grad–Bihać section.
The study estimates the investment required for the section located in Bosnia and Herzegovina at approximately €879 million.
The next phase of the project will include environmental impact assessment procedures, the inclusion of the Una railway in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), and the preparation of an application for funding from the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). It will also involve continued cooperation with Croatia on resolving cross-border infrastructure issues, as well as geotechnical investigations and additional bridge inspections. These activities will support the preparation of a feasibility study and help determine the final investment value.
