The HŽ Putnički Prijevoz (HŽPP) rail passenger transport company signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday with the Czech rail operator RegioJet on seasonal international train service on the Prague - Zagreb -Rijeka/Split route, similar to last year.
"We are happy that we are continuing last year's successful cooperation which resulted in a joint attractive and safe option for tourists travelling between Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We are happy that the average train occupancy was more than 90% and that the entire project was profitable. We are also exceptionally pleased with the cooperation with HŽPP based on which we will continue to launch joint projects", RegioJet director Radim Jančura said.
He added that about 25,000 tickets have already been sold and the first train will leave Prague on 28 May. Last year more than 60,000 passengers rode on this route.
"I hope that we can expand this attractive offer to an even greater number of tourists to come and enjoy Croatia as one of the most attractive European destinations and that Croatian citizens will be able to travel at affordable prices to Budapest, Bratislava and Prague", said Željko Ukić, president of the management board at HŽPP.
The signing of the Agreement was attended by the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Staničić.
"Last year's Prague-Rijeka line significantly contributed to the tourist results from the Czech market both in Kvarner and in the rest of Croatia. This year, Croatian destinations will be even more accessible to many Czech, Slovak and Hungarian travel enthusiasts, as the train will run to two new destinations, Zagreb and Split. Booking and ticket sales are going great and we are sure that with the help of this line we will surpass last year's result of 3.5 million tourist overnights from the Czech Republic", said Staničić.
The cooperation between the two railways will continue from 28 May to 30 September and a total of 176 trains will be made available in the hope that even more passengers will decide to travel. Trains will run three times a week in both directions during May and June while daily trains will run in July and August.
An agreement of partnership was signed on Thursday between the two railways that will establish a 10-year cooperation and partnership in activities and projects related to organizing and promoting tour trains in Croatia, the press release said.
(Hina)
