The Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ZFBiH) are working tirelessly to repair the extensive damage caused by recent catastrophic floods and landslides that devastated a 17-kilometre stretch of track between Ostrozac and Grabovica, near Jablanica. This destruction has resulted in a complete halt to railway traffic on the Sarajevo–Capljina route, severely impacting both passenger and freight transport.

The most significant damage occurred on the Donja Jablanica–Grabovica section, and according to ZFBiH, it will take at least two to three months to restore railway operations. The restoration will be funded by the FBiH Government, in line with the Law on Railways and the Law on Financing of Railway Infrastructure. A commission, established by ZFBiH in accordance with the Traffic Safety Law, is currently assessing the damage on-site daily, with the estimated cost of repairs around 5 million Bosnian marks (€2.55 million).

In a statement to FENA, representatives of ZFBiH emphasized that they are in constant communication with the FBiH Government and the relevant ministry to expedite the restoration of the damaged tracks.

The impact of this disruption is widespread. The FBiH Chamber of Commerce and the Employers’ Association report that approximately 400,000 tons of goods destined for BiH are currently stranded at the Port of Ploce. Several companies, including GIKIL, Arcelor Mittal, and Cementara Kakanj, rely heavily on the transport services provided by ZFBiH, with goods such as coal, steel, and oil being among the primary items transported.

The economic consequences are severe. ZFBiH is losing about 280,000 marks (€142,800) in daily revenue from the halted transport of goods and passengers, and the indirect damage to Bosnia’s economy is even greater. The volume of goods transported via the Port of Ploce accounts for about 32% of ŽFBiH’s annual transport, with around 6,500 tons of goods moving through the affected section each day.

Efforts to restore the railway are ongoing, but the disruption has already caused significant financial and logistical challenges for Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy.