A freight train operated by HŽ Cargo passed a signal displaying a red light at Škrljevo station. This safety breach occurred at 13.06 on the Zagreb–Rijeka line, between Škrljevo and Meja stations. The freight train did not stop to wait for a crossing with a passenger train operated by HŽ Putnički prijevoz, which was approaching from the direction of Zagreb towards Rijeka.
Staff from HŽ Infrastruktura (HŽ Infrastructure) promptly identified the dangerous situation and urgently cut the power in the overhead line. Thanks to this intervention, both trains were able to stop at a safe distance from each other, averting a potentially serious traffic accident. The passenger train, designated as train 4000, had approximately 45 passengers on board at the time of the incident.
Passengers held in the train were attended to on the spot and then transported by buses towards Rijeka. Rail traffic on the section between Škrljevo and Meja was temporarily suspended to allow for an investigation at the scene. On the Rijeka–Plaški route and vice versa, passenger services are being conducted by bus as a replacement solution.
This incident occurred a day after a serious train collision near Križevci, on the Sveti Ivan Žabno–Gradec section. In that accident, a total of 25 people were injured, further drawing attention to railway safety in the country.
