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Home / 2003 / Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia - August/September 2003 / 24 August 2003 18

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Today's route: minibus from hotel - Knin - Ličko Dugo Polje - Martin Brod (Bosnia) - Bihać - Blatna - Novi Grad - Omarska - Tomašica - Omarska - Banja Luka - Doboj.
This was the first day of the GIL special trip, and started with a special HŽ train from Knin to the official border with Bosnia-Hercegovina at Martin Brod. A ŽFBH/ŽRS special took us from there via Novi Grad and the freight-only branch to Tomašica to Doboj, using a former SJ coach. The route via Martin Brod only re-opened in 2001 and has not yet carried an advertised passenger service, though it sees very occasional freight traffic. The line crosses the border a total of seven times! The route as far as Bihać has largely been de-wired, and from there to Blatna the wiring is in place but out of use. ŽFBH 661-312 was seen (again) working the Novi Grad - Bihać passenger service. The branch to Tomašica goes to an iron ore loading area. The hotel at Doboj was rather iffy but was reportedly the only one available in the area. On arrival there was no water in the rooms, though the restaurant was OK. The water came on later but then went off again at about bedtime. Fortunately it was on again for morning showers etc.