Sarajevo–Mostar Talgo (ŽFBH)

Željeznice Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine (ŽFBH)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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The Journey

Navigate from Sarajevo Railway Station to Mostar Station across a span of 129km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Neretva River Gorge — one of Europe's most dramatic river canyons, with the track clinging to the cliff face above the green river for tens of kilometres
  • Jablanica Lake — train crosses the reservoir on a scenic causeway after emerging from a tunnel
  • Dinaric Alps mountain passage — 106 tunnels (longest: Ivan Sedlo at 3.23 km) and dozens of viaducts and bridges
  • Konjic old town and historic bridge (Arslanagića most) — visible from the train as it slows on the approach
  • Mostar's UNESCO-listed Stari Most (Old Bridge) — a 10-minute walk from the station
  • Tarčin plateau — high meadow crossing between Sarajevo and the Ivan Sedlo tunnel
  • Drežnica limestone canyon — narrow gorge section between Jablanica and Mostar
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    2 hours

  • Distance

    129 km

  • Est. Price

    14.10 BAM 2nd class / 19.90 BAM 1st class one-way Sarajevo–Mostar; 17.00 BAM 2nd class to Čapljina; €1 ≈ 1.95 BAM. Online tickets must be collected at the station — Sarajevo ticket office reportedly closes 17:00.

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None (cafe-bar onboard)

Ensuite: No

Meals: None (cafe-bar onboard)

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Electric locomotive (JZ 441 series, built under license by Končar / Đuro Đaković) hauling a Spanish Talgo 7-car tilting push-pull set

Locomotive Weight

Approximately 80 tonnes (electric JZ 441 / similar ŽFBH roster)

Track Gauge

1,435 mm standard gauge

Braking Technology

Talgo 'Talgo RD' tilting system with compressed-air disc brakes; electric regenerative braking on the locomotive

Route Engineering Challenges

  • 106 tunnels on the Sarajevo–Ploče line (longest: Ivan Sedlo at 3.23 km) — masonry maintenance and ongoing drainage upgrades

  • Major viaducts and bridges crossing Jablanica Lake and the Neretva Gorge — many single-track with limited maintenance access

  • Tilting technology required to maintain speed through the tight mountain curves of the single-track alignment

  • October 2024 Neretva-gorge landslide near Jablanica suspended all service for four months — required bank stabilisation and tunnel inspection before reopening February 10, 2025

  • Continuing exposure to winter storm damage and debris flow on the south-facing slopes above the river

  • Post-war (1992–1995) bridge and tunnel reconstruction has left some structures with reduced load ratings

  • Single-track alignment limits frequency to twice daily domestic + weekend international extension

  • Austro-Hungarian-era masonry tunnels require ongoing heritage-sensitive maintenance

Line

Sarajevo–Ploče railway (Bosnia and Herzegovina segment, operated by ŽFBH)

Route distance

129 km Sarajevo–Mostar; 163 km Sarajevo–Čapljina; 194.6 km full Sarajevo–Ploče

Maximum speed

100 km/h (Talgo tilting enables higher speed through curves)

Electrification

25 kV AC, 50 Hz (electrified 1969)

Carriages

Talgo 7-car articulated set: 1st class, 2nd class, and a cafe-bar car; lightweight articulated design with single-axle articulation points

Single track

Passing loops at major stations only — single-track alignment for most of the route

Number of tunnels

106 on the full Sarajevo–Ploče corridor; longest is Ivan Sedlo at 3.23 km

Operator

Željeznice Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine (ŽFBH)

Line opened

1891 (Austria-Hungary era); electrified 1969; post-war reopening 2003

Booking lead time

Online tickets on zfbh.ba open ~2 weeks ahead; tickets must be collected at the station

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    2 hours

  • Distance

    129 km

  • Est. Price

    14.10 BAM 2nd class / 19.90 BAM 1st class one-way Sarajevo–Mostar; 17.00 BAM 2nd class to Čapljina; €1 ≈ 1.95 BAM. Online tickets must be collected at the station — Sarajevo ticket office reportedly closes 17:00.

Official Booking Provider