Twenty-five years have passed since the historic event that took place only twenty days after the victorious military and police operation Storm and the liberation of the previously occupied parts of Croatia. The 21-waggon composition of the train, named symbolically “Freedom Train” departed from the Zagreb Railway Station towards Split at 8.07 after more than four years.  Among the passengers was the first Croatian President. Franjo Tuđman, many political, military, and culture officials as well as refugees expelled from their homes in the occupied areas.

The journey of the “Freedom Train” reconfirmed the success of the operation, which enabled the restoration of the railway connection between north and south Croatia, and highlighted the enthusiasm and expertise of the Croatian Railways personnel, who succeeded in reconstructing the railway for the traffic within just twenty days.

On its way to Split, the “Freedom Train” stopped in Karlovac, Gospić and Knin, where it was welcomed with ovations and festive enthusiasm of thousands of people overwhelmed with emotions and pride.

Exhibition in the Museum of Split

To commemorate the historic event – the journey of the “Freedom Train” from Zagreb to Split after a period of four years, one month and two days, restoring the railway connection between the two towns and connecting north and south of Croatia – the Museum of the City of Split and the Croatian Railway Museum set up a multimedia exhibition “Freedom Train – 25 years later”.

The exhibition features a video recorded during the journey and the atmosphere and during the stops at various stations and the address by President Tuđman, a number of photo and documentary material and interesting exhibits, such as the dress gloves worn by the Karlovac and Knin railway station masters, a dispatch baton, the dress uniform, and a train composition model, as well as the commemorative ticket.

The exhibition remains open until 25 September 2020.

Interesting facts about the “Freedom Train”:

– “Freedom Train” circulated as a convoy of trains – Train 131-1, Train 131-2 and Train 131-3, according to precisely defined 10-min intervals, which were strictly adhered to throughout the journey

–  The six best shunting locomotives had been prepared for the journey of the “Freedom Train”, two per each train.  

 – Also, the best railway personnel (station managers, dispatchers and train operators) were assigned for the journey appointed and hired. The main composition of the special Train number 131 was pulled by a diesel–electric locomotive operated by the train driver instructor (late Mihovil Tomić) and his assistant Petar Barić.

– At the initiative of President Tuđman the train stopped at the village Lovinac in Lika too.   

– The railway repair had been assumed to take at least two months, given that the rain had been mined and the infrastructure damaged, but the enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise of the railway personnel and the assistance from the Croatian Army the works were finished for the passage of the Train just three weeks after the Operation “Storm”.

– The very next day the legendary train “Marjan Express”, which had connected Zagreb and Split, resumed service.