(ANSA) - ZAGREB, JULY 9 - In the coming four years, Croatia will invest almost 1.3 billion euros in the modernization and construction of its railways, 59% of which in projects co-financed by European funds, the Zagreb-based Vecernji list daily newspaper reported today. The Croatian Railways (HZ) explained that this is the largest investment in the history of Croatia, and the company is currently the biggest beneficiary of EU funding in the country.

Eighteen projects will be carried out between 2019 and 2023. Some of them have already entered the final phase, whereas others will begin in the coming months. Most of the work concerns the construction of new lines and the modernization of some already existing lines in central Croatia. These lines link the capital to other cities in the north and the along the borders with Slovenia and Hungary. Some more projects are about to be implemented, aimed at improving connections between Zagreb and the Croatian Adriatic coast. (ANSA).