Slovenia Connects Adriatic and Central Europe with Most Expensive Project

(Patria) - Slovenia is launching a new major investment in railway infrastructure worth over 430 million euros, continuing the realization of one of the most important and expensive infrastructure projects in its history.

The Slovenian government has approved an investment program for the construction of an additional parallel track on the Divača-Koper railway line, a route that represents a key link between the country's interior and the Port of Koper, Slovenia's most important seaport, writes Biznis.info

The project will be implemented by the state-owned company 2TDK, and the total value of the investment is estimated at 430.2 million euros excluding VAT.

Continuation of the country's largest infrastructure project

This is a continuation of the major project for the second track between Divača and Koper, which has been one of the most important infrastructure endeavors in Slovenia in recent years.

The new investment involves the construction of an additional parallel left track alongside the already built route, which would long-term form a full double-track system between Divača and Koper.

The Slovenian government emphasizes that the project will:

increase the capacity of rail traffic,

reduce the burden of road transport,

improve logistical connectivity,

strengthen the competitiveness of the Port of Koper,

and contribute to sustainable development and the quality of life of the population.

According to estimates, after the completion of the project, around 252 trains per day could operate on the line.

Why this railway is so important

The Divača-Koper railway is considered one of Slovenia's most important transport arteries as it connects Central Europe with the Adriatic Sea.

The Port of Koper has recorded strong traffic growth in recent years and is one of the key logistical hubs for Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and other Central European countries.

Therefore, Slovenian authorities want to increase rail transport capacity and reduce dependence on truck traffic.

Few infrastructure projects in Slovenia have caused as much political debate as the Divača-Koper railway. For years, there have been discussions about the project's cost, financing methods, and the state's role, and even two referendums were held.

One of the referendums was later annulled by a court decision, which caused a serious political crisis and further slowed down the project's implementation.

However, despite the controversies, Slovenia has continued to invest in railway infrastructure, considering the modernization of the route to Koper crucial for the country's long-term economic development.

With the approval of the new investment program, the Slovenian government also made a decision to recapitalize the company 2TDK, which manages the project.

The government also adopted the company's annual report for 2025, creating the conditions for the continuation of works and the next phase of the project's development.

The new investment confirms Slovenia's ambition to further strengthen its position as a regional logistics and transport hub on the Adriatic.