Eleven wagons on a grain train jumped the tracks near Meja station outside Rijeka on Saturday morning, knocking out a stretch of the Croatian rail network that feeds one of the country's biggest ports.
The derailment happened at around 9:25 am on 11 October as the train, operated by Transagent, was heading towards Rijeka. According to infrastructure operator HŽ Infrastruktura, the locomotive and two wagons stopped at the station while the other eleven left the tracks. Nobody was hurt, but the damage to the line and rolling stock is described as significant.
The detail that has drawn attention: Croatian broadcaster HRT reported that the driver radioed railway staff before the crash, saying the brakes had failed and he could not stop the train. Whether that is what actually happened is now a matter for investigators. The Croatian Transport Accident Investigation Agency has been notified and will establish the cause.
In the meantime, the line between Plase and Meja, including Meja station itself, is closed to all rail traffic. That section is part of the rail corridor connecting Rijeka — Croatia's main Adriatic cargo gateway — with inland Croatia and markets further north in Central Europe. Freight operators will feel the pinch first, but passenger services through the area are affected too, and HŽ Passenger Transport is the place to check for replacement transport arrangements. Officials have not yet said when the line will reopen.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: if your itinerary involves trains into or out of Rijeka in the coming days, check HŽ Passenger Transport's updates before you set off and build in extra time. Buses along the coast and inland routes remain an alternative, and Rijeka is well connected by road to destinations like Opatija, the Istrian peninsula and Zagreb.
We'll keep an eye on the investigation and the reopening timeline — until then, the line through Meja stays shut. (Source: Croatia Week)
