Passenger rail in Bosnia and Herzegovina exists, but it does not function as one national network. The country has two passenger operators, a handful of useful corridors, and long stretches of railway with no scheduled passenger train. Many journey planners see the continuous track and return a trip that the current timetables do not support.
The good news is specific. The train between Sarajevo and Mostar runs daily, takes about two hours, and follows the Neretva through the mountains. It is the rail trip most visitors can use without forcing the rest of the itinerary around a sparse timetable.
This guide was checked against the operators' published information on July 26, 2026.
What passenger trains are running?
The 2025/26 timetables reduce to six practical corridors.
| Operator | Corridor | Current pattern | Visitor use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ŽFBH | Sarajevo to Mostar and Čapljina | Two daily pairs | The main visitor route |
| ŽFBH | Sarajevo to Ploče | Friday through Sunday, June 26 to September 27, 2026 | Seasonal Adriatic extension |
| ŽFBH | Sarajevo to Maglaj | One limited pair, with weekend exceptions | Sarajevo, Visoko, Zenica, and Bosna-valley trips |
| ŽFBH | Bihać to Bosanska Otoka | Saturday and Sunday in June, July, and August 2026 | Seasonal Una tourist train |
| ŽRS | Doboj to Banja Luka, then west to Novi Grad or Dobrljin | Low-frequency domestic service | Northern Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| ŽRS | Doboj to Petrovo Novo | Low-frequency local service | Local branch, limited visitor value |
This table describes passenger service, not the full railway infrastructure. Freight trains and unused passenger routes account for much of the track shown on a national rail map.
Why are there two railway operators?
ŽFBH Passenger Rail operates in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its passenger timetable centers on Sarajevo, with trains south to Mostar and Čapljina, north to Maglaj, and local services to Pazarić, Visoko, and Zenica. It also runs the separate summer tourist train from Bihać.
ŽRS Passenger Rail operates in Republika Srpska. Its current passenger corridors connect Doboj with Banja Luka, Banja Luka with Novi Grad or Dobrljin, and Doboj with Petrovo Novo.
The rails meet physically. The passenger services do not meet cleanly. ŽFBH reaches Maglaj from Sarajevo, while ŽRS trains begin from Doboj. No scheduled passenger train covers the gap between those two timetables.
Is Sarajevo to Mostar as good as people say?
The Sarajevo to Mostar train is the clearest reason to use rail in the country. It runs for 129 kilometers along the Neretva corridor. Much of the route alternates between tunnels and open views across the river, reservoirs, and steep limestone slopes.
The current timetable has southbound departures from Sarajevo at 07:15 and 16:46. The morning train reaches Mostar shortly after 09:00. The afternoon train arrives around 18:50. Northbound trains leave Čapljina at 06:03 and 16:42, with the summer weekend afternoon departure moved later when the Ploče train is running.
The trains are air-conditioned Talgo sets. Second class is the normal ticket. The Man in Seat 61 lists Sarajevo to Mostar at 14.10 BAM and Sarajevo to Čapljina at 17 BAM, with a discount on return tickets. Verify the fare with ŽFBH when booking.
For the river views, sit on the left from Sarajevo toward Mostar and on the right in the opposite direction. Seating is not normally reserved, so arriving with enough time to choose a side helps.
How does the seasonal train to Ploče work?
Ploče is a Croatian port on the Adriatic, 37 kilometers beyond Čapljina. ŽFBH extends the morning Sarajevo train there on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from June 26 to September 27, 2026.
The outbound train leaves Sarajevo at 07:15 and reaches Ploče at 10:36. The return leaves Ploče at 18:26, Mostar at 19:56, Konjic at 20:45, and reaches Sarajevo at 21:54. The one-way journey takes about three hours and twenty minutes.
The 2026 fare is 29.30 BAM one way or 48.30 BAM return. ŽFBH also publishes concessions for children and several passenger groups.
Ploče tickets are not sold online. Buy by noon on the day before travel at the ticket office in Sarajevo, Hadžići, Konjic, Mostar, or Čapljina. The office records each passenger's name, birth year, and passport number for border control. A passenger beginning in Ploče buys from the conductor and can pay in convertible marks or euros.
The train makes Ploče possible as a rail day trip, but it does not solve onward travel along the Croatian coast. Continue by bus if the destination is Dubrovnik, Split, or another coastal town.
Can you take a train from Sarajevo to Banja Luka?
No. Current passenger timetables do not offer a through Sarajevo to Banja Luka train.
ŽFBH runs from Sarajevo to Maglaj. ŽRS runs from Doboj to Banja Luka. The railway between Maglaj and Doboj exists, but no scheduled passenger service bridges the two operators there. A bus is the practical direct option.
Combining separate trains with an improvised road transfer between Maglaj and Doboj creates a fragile trip. One missed connection can consume most of a day because neither side has frequent departures.
What runs north of Sarajevo?
ŽFBH train 710 leaves Sarajevo at 16:28 and reaches Maglaj at 19:01. Train 711 leaves Maglaj at 06:07 and reaches Sarajevo at 08:47. The published notes say train 710 does not run on Saturday and train 711 does not run on Sunday.
The route serves the Bosna valley through Visoko, Kakanj, Zenica, Žepče, and Zavidovići. Weekday local trains add shorter services from Sarajevo to Visoko and Zenica, plus trains between Zenica and Maglaj.
This corridor can work for a specific trip to Visoko or Zenica. It does not work as a turn-up-and-go regional system. Check the date and both directions before committing to a same-day return.
What runs around Banja Luka and Doboj?
The ŽRS timetable for December 14, 2025, through December 12, 2026, lists three domestic corridors.
Doboj to Banja Luka runs through Stanari, Ukrina, Čelinac, and a long series of smaller stops. Banja Luka to Novi Grad or Dobrljin continues west through Prijedor. Doboj to Petrovo Novo follows a local branch through Suvo Polje and Sočkovac.
These are low-frequency regional trains. The ŽRS website provides a journey planner, and the operator publishes direct phone numbers for the ticket offices. Banja Luka is +387 51 336 411, Doboj is +387 53 209 009, and Prijedor is +387 52 211 021.
Dobrljin sits near the Croatian border, but current passenger service does not cross it. Do not read the Banja Luka to Dobrljin train as a route into Croatia.
What is the Bihać tourist train?
The summer tourist train runs from Bihać through Cazin-Srbljani and Bosanska Krupa to Bosanska Otoka. It follows the Una railway but does not connect with Sarajevo.
In June, July, and August 2026, trains run on Saturday and Sunday. They leave Bihać at 09:00 and 16:00. Return trains leave Bosanska Otoka at 11:45 and 18:20. The one-way fare is 2 BAM.
Special events can replace the normal schedule. ŽFBH changed the July 25 service for the Una Regatta, then restored the normal trains on July 26. Recent operator notices matter as much as the base timetable for this route.
Which cities have no useful passenger train?
Several common itinerary lines are bus trips.
- Sarajevo to Belgrade has no current passenger train.
- Sarajevo to Zagreb has no current passenger train.
- Sarajevo to Banja Luka has no through passenger train.
- Mostar to Dubrovnik or Split has no passenger train.
- Trebinje, Travnik, and Jajce have no current passenger rail service.
- Tuzla is not served by the current ŽFBH passenger timetable, and the ŽRS Petrovo Novo service does not continue there.
Older travel pages often describe former Talgo services to Banja Luka or Bihać and historical international trains. Those services are not part of the current timetable.
How do you buy tickets without getting stuck?
For domestic ŽFBH travel, check the operator's timetable first, then use its ticketing instructions or buy at the station. Online booking may produce a collection reference rather than a conventional electronic ticket. Leave time at Sarajevo station to collect or buy the ticket before departure.
For ŽRS travel, the station ticket office is the safer starting point. The direct phone numbers are useful because the online planner is dynamic and does not explain every disruption in prose.
For Ploče, follow the advance passenger-list procedure. A domestic ticket routine does not apply to the international extension.
Carry cash in convertible marks. Cards and online sales are not reliable enough to make cash optional at a small station.
What is the practical way to plan a Bosnia rail trip?
Use rail where the current timetable is strong enough to support the trip.
- Take the train between Sarajevo and Mostar.
- Continue to Čapljina if it fits the itinerary.
- Use the seasonal Ploče train only after completing the advance ticket procedure.
- Treat Sarajevo to Maglaj and the ŽRS corridors as timetable-led regional trips.
- Use buses for Belgrade, Zagreb, Banja Luka from Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Split, Trebinje, Travnik, and Jajce.
The country is not without passenger trains. It has a few real services surrounded by a much larger map of railway infrastructure. Planning becomes straightforward once those two things are separated.
Sources
Current ŽFBH times and operating notes come from the official 2025/26 timetable. The Ploče dates, times, and fares come from the 2026 seasonal-service notice and the international ticket-procedure notice. Bihać service details come from the Bosanska Otoka tourist-train notice and the July 25 service-change notice.
ŽRS corridors come from its official journey planner, its station contact list, and the operator's 2025 timetable announcement as reported by Nezavisne novine. Sarajevo to Mostar fares, rolling stock, and seating details were cross-checked against the Man in Seat 61.