Project name: Ilidža–Hrasnica Tramway Line
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Investor: Sarajevo Canton
Contract value: 50.610,25 EUR
Design team: IPSA Institut – Transport Infrastructure Department. The team consists of highly skilled road and infrastructure engineers who have been delivering strategic transport projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina for decades.
The goal: To design a modern tramway connection between Ilidža and Hrasnica that improves urban mobility, reduces travel times, and supports sustainable development in Sarajevo.
Design objects: The project includes the design of a 12.96 km tramway line with two terminal stations (Ilidža and Hrasnica), 11 stops, 7 switches, full reconstruction of the road corridor, integration with existing utilities, and detailed vertical and horizontal alignment modeling.
Software solution used: Ferrovia by CGS Labs
Introduction
The Ilidža–Hrasnica tramway line is one of Sarajevo’s most significant public transport projects in recent decades. With a total length of 12.96 km, the project aims to connect the Ilidža settlement with Hrasnica, improving mobility and reducing travel times for thousands of daily passengers. Although the idea for the tramway dates back more than 40 years, its realization only became possible as part of a comprehensive urban modernization plan.
The corridor has long been reserved in Sarajevo’s urban structure, with central space left between road lanes for the tramway alignment. This strategic foresight enabled the project to move forward without major land acquisition challenges, though integration with existing dense infrastructure remained a key task.
Project scope
The tramway includes two terminal stations—Ilidža and Hrasnica—connected by a double track line passing through urban and suburban zones. Along its length, the project incorporates 2 terminals, 11 tram stops, 7 switches, and a design speed of 60 km/h. The route is planned to ensure both operational efficiency and smooth passenger flow, while adapting to the physical and technical constraints of the corridor.
IPSA Institute also collaborated with colleagues from other bureaus. Using Aquaterra, drainage design was developed, while architects designed the layout and integration of tram stations and terminals.
Image: Tramway corridor plan between Ilidža and Hrasnica.
Key challenges
Designing a tramway in Sarajevo’s urban context posed several unique challenges. The city is densely built, located in a valley along the Miljacka River, with limited space for expansion. The corridor between Ilidža and Hrasnica passes through areas where urban growth is constrained by natural boundaries and protected water zones that supply around 80% of the city’s drinking water.
As a result, careful alignment planning was required to balance environmental protection with urban development needs. In some sections, such as near Hrasnica, the surrounding area is already urbanized, while in others, new development is expected as part of the tramway’s economic impact.
“If you have an existing road that is planned to cross the tram line, it is a real art to integrate the tram rail level with the existing intersection or road level.”
– Predrag Šarkinović, Head of Department for Transport Infrastructure Design
Image: Cross-section of the Ilidža–Hrasnica tramway line designed with Ferrovia software.
Integration of infrastructure and stops
The design of stops and turnarounds was another complex task. Based on the defined horizontal and vertical alignment, the engineering team coordinated closely with structural and architectural departments to detail the terminal stations and platforms. Each stop, typically 50 meters in length and up to 2.5 meters in width, was adapted to its specific location, often requiring minor expropriations or adjustments to fit within the existing built environment.
Although BIM was not fully implemented in this project, Ferrovia’s modeling capabilities provided a clear 3D representation of the alignment and infrastructure, which significantly improved coordination across disciplines.
Image: Plan view of Ilidža–Hrasnica tramway turnaround and terminal station designed with Ferrovia software.
Image: Cross-section of Ilidža–Hrasnica tramway terminal platform.
Role of software
Ferrovia by CGS Labs played a crucial role in delivering the design with the necessary precision. It allowed the team to model the tramway alignment in detail, adjust vertical and horizontal geometry to comply with tramway technical standards, and integrate the stops, turnarounds, and all structural elements into a unified model.
“If you have an existing road that is planned to cross the tram line, it is a real art to integrate the tram rail level with the existing intersection or road level.”
– Predrag Šarkinović, Head of Department for Transport Infrastructure Design
Conclusion
The Ilidža–Hrasnica tramway line represents a key step in the modernization of Sarajevo’s public transport system and the city’s long-term urban development strategy. Through careful planning and interdisciplinary collaboration, the IPSA Institut team delivered a technically sound and context-sensitive design that integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure. The new tramway is expected to significantly improve urban mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and support more sustainable patterns of growth across the Sarajevo region.
About the Company
IPSA INSTITUT d.o.o. Sarajevo is a leading independent consulting firm in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Founded in 1958, IPSA has delivered more than 8.000 projects across the region, building a strong reputation and brand. IPSA specializes in developing infrastructure systems with a wide range of services, such as: spatial planning, master planning, feasibility studies and design, tender preparation and project management, environmental impact assessment and waste management, construction supervision, technical assistance and optimization.
They provide high-quality consulting engineering services for various sectors, including transportation, water and power supply, building construction, and environmental protection. IPSA has partnered with over 70 consulting firms from the European Union, the USA, and Japan. IPSA is a company that has 90 engineers and 80% of them are from various profiles. IPSA’s teams consist of university professors from the Faculty of Traffic and Communication, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the Faculty of Architecture, and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.