TRIESTE – The first test train has run on the new Koper-Divača railway link, marking a symbolic milestone for one of the most important infrastructure projects built by Slovenia in recent decades. The new line, 27 kilometres long, follows an entirely new corridor between the Karst plateau and the port of Koper. It is the first railway connection of this kind built by Slovenia since independence. The route crosses complex terrain and includes seven tunnels and three viaducts, features that make it one of the most demanding projects ever carried out in the country and one of the most complex in Europe in recent years.
The works were carried out mainly by the Slovenian companies Kolektor CPG and Železniško gradbeno podjetje Ljubljana, with the contribution of several national and international partners involved in the various phases of the project. The infrastructure also includes Slovenia’s longest railway tunnel. During construction, more kilometres of tunnels were built overall than those completed on the country’s entire motorway network since independence.
During the inauguration event for the first test journey, the Slovenian prime minister described the day as “a historic moment”, underlining the strategic value of the line in connecting the country with international markets through the port of Koper. Infrastructure minister Alenka Bratušek stressed that the project has remained within the financial framework set in 2019, when the initial investment programme was approved. Matej Oset, chief executive of the state-owned company 2TDK in charge of delivering the project, said the train’s first run was the result of years of work and of a project that was particularly complex from an engineering point of view. Oset also thanked the local communities along the line for their cooperation and patience throughout the years of construction.
From a technical standpoint, the line was built largely with slab track, an engineering solution that ensures greater stability, lower maintenance requirements and a longer service life for the infrastructure. Work began with the construction of access roads in 2019, while the main construction phase started in 2021. The project required around six years of work overall before the first test convoy could run.
In recent days, moreover, the European Court of Auditors concluded a six-month audit of the Koper-Divača project. The review closed without observations. According to 2TDK, the European auditors examined the project’s technical and financial documentation, visited the construction sites and carried out interviews with the parties involved in the works. The absence of remarks represents, according to the company, confirmation of the project’s management and of the use of European funds. In recent months, other external checks have also been carried out, including a financial audit by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and an inspection by Slovenia’s budget supervision office. These procedures too were concluded without any irregularities being reported.
