Josip Muslić, Matija Bertek, and Matija Dobrenić were ENNA Transport scholarship recipients in high school, and today they drive trains weighing over 2,000 tons.

Zagreb, April 2, 2025 – Tportal published a story about the young train drivers of ENNA Transport, Josip Muslić, Matija Dobrenić, and Matija Bertek. All three were ENNA Transport scholarship recipients in high school, after which they were employed by the same company. Josip Muslić and Matija Dobrenić have since become independent train drivers, while Matija Bertek is currently a trainee train driver undergoing training with a mentor.

In the interview, they described what attracted them to this profession, why they call themselves "pilots on rails," and which route is their favorite.

Below is the article from Tportal:

In love with the rails: Meet three young men who drive trains weighing 2,000 Tons

According to ambitious state plans, 6.2 billion euros will be invested in railways over the next ten years, meaning the demand for train drivers will only increase.

The easiest way to become a train driver is to enroll in a technical high school for traction technicians (train drivers), which lasts four years. Worryingly, only one class of train drivers graduates each year, and many do not stay in the profession.

Therefore, ENNA Transport, the first Croatian private railway cargo carrier, offers scholarships to students of the Technical School in Zagreb, the only high school for train drivers in Croatia.

ENNA Transport currently has seven employees (train drivers or future train drivers) who were its scholarship recipients in high school. Two scholarship recipients have completed all training, passed exams, and become independent train drivers. Five scholarship recipients are in the internship and training process.

What does it mean to be a train driver?

A train driver is not just someone who operates a train – they are a professional who bears the responsibility for the safety of cargo worth millions of euros, makes decisions in challenging situations daily, and must maintain a high level of concentration during their shift.

"You have to have something inside you, you have to love what you do. Only then can the job be done properly and safely," explains 20-year-old Josip Muslić, one of ENNA Transport's young train drivers.

Interestingly, the Train Drivers program was not Josip's first choice – he initially wanted to train as an aircraft mechanic, but on the suggestion of older colleagues, he enrolled in the train driver program.

"The deciding factor for me to enroll in train driver school was that I loved riding trains as a child, I liked counting wagons on freight trains, so curiosity turned into love and a job," Josip recalls.

Although not physically demanding, the job of a train driver requires mental stability, high concentration, and the ability to make quick decisions. A train driver must be prepared to work in various weather conditions, night shifts, and long drives, but in return, they get a unique perspective – a view of the beautiful landscapes of Croatia from the cab of a powerful locomotive.

Read the full article on tportal.hr.