From September 1, public transport in Osijek and the county is 28 percent cheaper

A partnership agreement for the development of integrated passenger transport by train, bus, and tram in the area of Osijek and the Osijek-Baranja County was signed in Osijek on Wednesday, which will allow residents of Osijek and the county to travel 28 percent cheaper starting from the beginning of September.

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The contract was signed by the Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Ivan Anušić, the President of the Management Board of Croatian Railways Passenger Transport (HŽPP) Željko Ukić, the Director of the Osijek city company City Passenger Transport (GPP) Mario Šapina, and the Deputy Mayor of Osijek Boris Piližota.

A Contract for the promotion of integrated passenger transport through the application of a joint monthly subscription card of HŽPP and GPP was also signed.

“Osijek is the fourth city in Croatia where such an agreement has been signed, and from September, passengers will be able to use a single monthly card for the train, bus, and tram. This area is divided into four zones, so this benefit can be used by everyone within a 40-kilometer radius of Osijek, including the cities of Vinkovci, Beli Manastir, and Đakovo, as well as the settlements of Erdut, Dalj, and others located within that radius. Our goal is to coordinate the timetables so that passengers have to wait as little as possible when they need to change the type of transport during their journey. We expect this will lead to an increase in the number of passengers, which will compensate for the 28 percent lower ticket prices,” said Ukić.

County Prefect Anušić reminded that the County Assembly of Osijek-Baranja County adopted a Masterplan for the development of transport in the county at the beginning of July, which envisages the integration of public transport.

“This aligns us with the new Law on Public Passenger Transport, which has already been adopted and will come into force in 2019. We expect this will avoid a situation like the one we had a few months ago when a large number of intercity lines were interrupted. We expect all carriers with a concession in the county to be involved in this,” said Anušić, emphasizing that transport lines will be formed once the needs of the population are determined.

GPP Director Mario Šapina stated that this project aligns with the intention of the European Union, which has long recognized the advantages of integrated transport.

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“This allows citizens to reach their workplaces, schools, colleges, and other destinations much cheaper, easier, and faster,” said Šapina. As he explained, the joint subscription card will be two-component and will consist of the GPP smart card and the HŽPP smart card.