TRIESTE – Along the 27-kilometre route of the new second railway track between the Port of Koper and Divača, nearly 10 kilometres of rails have already been laid.
Following the completion last July of the main civil works on the section between Črni Kal and Koper, work is now progressing rapidly on track laying — which, in some areas, runs in parallel with the final construction activities to speed up completion.
According to 2TDK, the state-owned company leading the project, the line will be ready for the first technical tests by March 2026, running from Divača to Koper. This is despite the challenges posed by the karst terrain and landslides in the Glinščica Valley (Val Rosandra on the Slovenian side). Complex slope-stabilisation works are underway there, involving geologists and engineers to ensure long-term safety. Inside the tunnels, five viaducts are being completed, built under particularly demanding logistical conditions due to the large karst cavities encountered along the route.
Despite technical challenges and inflation, the project continues to remain within the budget set in 2019 — a result that 2TDK describes as a source of pride in a context of rising material and labour costs.
Further confirmation of sound project management comes from a recent audit conducted by CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, which oversees funds from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. The review, focused on tunnel-related expenses for sections T1–T7 between 2018 and 2022 (€79.6 million), found no irregularities and made no recommendations. Procurement contracts, accounting accuracy and payment traceability were all verified with positive results.
2TDK’s management welcomed the outcome, calling it “a confirmation of our meticulous work in line with the highest project management standards, strengthening public and European partners’ confidence.”
