A new model for faster transit

Tovarnik, 5 September 2025 – On Thursday, 4 September 2025, ENNA Transport HR and ENNA Transport BGD carried out their first ever train handover in Tovarnik with full driver interoperability. This meant that only the train drivers from Croatia and Serbia were exchanged, without replacing the locomotives.

Until now, staff interoperability between the two ENNA companies had been in place in such a way that trains arriving from Croatia could continue to destinations such as Belgrade, but only Croatian drivers were authorised to hand over the train, and solely at Šid station in Serbia, which has for decades served as the designated border station.

Driver interoperability is standard practice between EU member states. However, since Serbia is not a member of the European Union, ENNA Transport, in cooperation with HŽ Infrastructure and other relevant institutions, has established a model allowing Serbian drivers (ENNA Transport BGD) to bring a train as far as Tovarnik station on the Croatian railway network.

In practice, this means that a driver bringing a train from Belgrade has sufficient time at Šid station to carry out brake tests, assist with customs and police inspections, and complete other mandatory procedures, before continuing to Tovarnik, where the Croatian driver then takes over. This significantly reduces turnaround times, as Croatian drivers no longer need to travel to Šid to receive the train, prepare it, and oversee customs clearance. Instead, they simply take over at Tovarnik and continue towards the final destination.

This new arrangement optimises operations for both ENNA Transport HR and ENNA Transport BGD, streamlines procedures, and shortens overall transit time.