Welcome to Zagreb multi phase Stadler FLIRT!!

I think this is the first time ever a train on regular passenger service traveled from Ljubljana on 3kV DC, switched to 25kV AC power in Dobova and continued on to Zagreb!!

Okay, so what's going on and why is this important?

Up until today, to travel between Zagreb and Ljubljana you had to book a seat on one of the 3 daily pairs of trains on long distance services (to Villach, Stuttgart, Zürich etc..) These trains are fine, but Ljubljana is just a stop on them.

So starting today, Slovenske železnice are extending two daily local trains that used to go from Ljubljana to Dobova all the way to Zagreb, giving passengers more options! That's two more pairs of trains between two cities!

https://potniski.sz.si/dodatne-vlakovne-povezave-s-hrvasko-in-nekaj-sprememb-v-voznem-redu-1-september-2025/

We're running express to Zaprešić, the only intermediate stop in Croatia on this service. In the meantime, a bit about ticketing.

Neither SŽ (🇸🇮) nor HŽPP (🇭🇷) added each other's stations to their regular ticketing systems, so you couldn't book this online.

I went to the ticket booth and they sold me a paper ticket (€9! Good deal).

I asked the (HŽPP) conductor what would happen if I didn't do that? She said it's annoying they didn't add each other's stops to their system, so she would have sold me a ticket to Savski Marof (one of the last stops in 🇭🇷)

I would then get the SŽ (🇸🇮) ticket from Dobova to Ljubljana.

Good to know. I'll try this for my return trip. However, buying tix that way will be more expensive - €9.60 for SŽ (🇸🇮) and €1.71 for HŽPP (🇭🇷) vs a total €9 when bought at the booth.

Having just returned from my beautiful but heartbreaking 3 day rail trip across Bosnia, I'm full of emotions.

The trip I'm on right now is what travel between neighbors should be like. After 34 years, at least this one connection is getting back on track.

https://mastodon.vladovince.com/@mejs/115111357906417080

Time to board the Stadler FLIRT back to Zagreb. I was hoping for a double decker KISS, but alas. Maybe next time.

I intentionally didn't buy a paper ticket. Let's see how it goes with a SŽ and HŽPP combo mobile tix.

And a special report for @jon

Here's what's left of Melania's statue near Sevnica

For the sake of completion I'll go to the main station, but I'm making a mental note for the future. There's a pretty good 5 minute connection there for local Zagreb trains.

Btw, Slo železnice updated their timetable to reflect the Zaprešić stop after I messaged them earlier today!

https://potniski.sz.si/dodatne-vlakovne-povezave-s-hrvasko-in-nekaj-sprememb-v-voznem-redu-1-september-2025/

And welcome back to Zagreb! Thanks for following along folks. The final verdict: fantastic!

This is a no fuss, common sense service. Add more, extend regional trains, then run multi phase locos to Zagreb and run the damn HŽPP trains to Dobova. The future is coming and for once this is a good one.