In the (near) future, travel from the center of Zagreb—and thus from the rest of Croatia—to Franjo Tuđman Airport will become significantly faster and easier, as a train will run directly from the Main Train Station to the airport. However, this infrastructure project also carries additional strategic value: it will include the construction of a new, safer link between the Croatian Air Force hangars and the runway, specifically designed for the operations of Rafale fighter jets.
As reported by Večernji list, this is all part of a broader plan for the development of the Zagreb railway hub. The Ministry of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure has confirmed that the first phase of the study is in its final stage. This phase specifically involves connecting the airport to the city’s railway network. A financial and economic analysis is still underway, with completion expected by the end of August 2025. After that, the preparation of project documentation will follow, and then construction works will begin.
The planned railway route will run from the Odra station near Velika Mlaka, parallel to the road leading to both the old and the new terminal. This will create a long-awaited rail link that will improve access for both passengers and airport staff, while also helping to ease road traffic congestion toward the airport.
Perhaps even more importantly, the project includes a new, safer route connecting the Croatian Air Force hangars and infrastructure to the runway. The current transport solution, built during the reconstruction of the passenger terminal, has proven to be vulnerable. The taxiway connecting the Colonel Marko Živković barracks and the runway is located above an underpass used by road traffic, which represents a strategic weakness—any potential collapse of the underpass could entirely block Rafale jets from accessing the runway.
The new solution envisions a route that bypasses these weak points, allowing the Croatian Air Force to operate freely and securely at all times. According to Večernji list, the optimal solution has already been selected and approved by all relevant stakeholders, meaning the project should proceed according to plan.
This infrastructure development is not only important for improving transportation links between the capital and Croatia’s largest airport, but also for strengthening the country’s defense readiness. By introducing a modern railway connection and simultaneously enhancing military infrastructure, the project unites both civilian and strategic goals into a single development vision.
