Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and Minister of Infrastructure Alenka Bratušek. Photo: Government of Slovenia
A Flirt train successfully ran on the Divača–Koper double track in Slovenia, confirming that the double-track route is viable, marking a “historic moment” for rail transport in Slovenia.
The test train assessed the infrastructure, and “Slovenia has reached a major milestone in railway infrastructure,” states 2TDK, the company responsible for the project.
The event took place on March 11, 2026, in the presence of Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, the Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, as well as 2TDK CEO Marko Brezigar and 2TDK General Director Marko Brezigar, along with representatives of the companies that carried out the project and the Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovenia, Jerneja Jug Jerše.
“The completion of the double track is a testament to Slovenia’s technical capacity and expertise, which made the design of this complex railway line possible. Our specialists took on the responsibility so that today we can travel on this route.
This is the concrete beginning of achieving the goal of making the Koroška region much better connected to central Slovenia,” the Prime Minister stated.
The new 27-kilometer railway line was built on a completely new route and represents the first connection of this type completed in Slovenia in recent decades. The main contractors for the construction and railway works were the Slovenian companies Kolektor CPG and Železniško gradbeno podjetje Ljubljana, which, together with numerous local and international partners, contributed to the successful completion of the project.
“The Divača–Koper double-track line goes beyond the scope of a simple infrastructure project, contributing to improved accessibility, reduced travel times, and increased transport safety, while also having a major impact on the economic development of Slovenia, the Port of Koper, and trade relations with countries in the hinterland,” said Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek.
75% of the Divača–Koper double track runs through tunnels
The line is extremely important for transport to and from the Port of Koper, being essential not only for domestic but also for international transport, helping to shift traffic to rail.
Photo: 2TDK
The project for the second railway line, built entirely from scratch, is a major undertaking, including the longest tunnel in Slovenia, and in just five years, more kilometers of tunnels were built than on the entire transport network constructed since independence.
The Divača–Koper double-track project involved the construction of a new 27.7-km line intended to supplement the current transport capacity. Due to difficult terrain conditions and environmental restrictions, only 5.4 km of the line is built as an “open-cut section,” with the remainder—representing 75% of the route—constructed in tunnels, making it a particularly complex project from a technical standpoint.
The line consists of a mix of viaducts, bridges, and seven tunnels, with a total length of 20.5 km; the longest tunnel—T1—is over 6.7 km.
Photo: 2TDK
“Such projects are rare both nationally and across Europe. The project is considered a best practice example in Europe, serving as a model for other countries and companies regarding the transparent, responsible, and efficient implementation of complex infrastructure investments,” said Marko Brezigar, CEO of 2TDK.
Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Robert Golob, and Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek. Photo: Government of Slovenia
In May 2021, Slovenia launched construction work on the doubling of the Divača–Koper line, a project entrusted to the state-owned company 2TDK. The project was necessary because the existing single-track line could no longer handle traffic volumes, acting as a bottleneck that frequently choked traffic.
The line project was carried out in two sections through contracts totaling EUR 629 million:
- The Divača–Črni Kal section (with two tunnels and a viaduct) carried out under a EUR 403.6 million contract;
- The Črni Kal–Koper section (with two viaducts and six tunnels) for a value of EUR 224.75 million.
Both contracts were awarded to the CPG consortium, formed by Kolektor CPG (Slovenia) and Yapi Merkezi Insaat and Ozaltin Insaat (Turkiye).
Project value maintained at the same level
The entire project was valued at over EUR 1.1 billion, of which European co-financing amounted to EUR 390 million. Additionally, in 2023, the European Investment Bank approved a loan of EUR 250 million.
The project represents a notable achievement, having been completed within the budget limits set as early as 2019 and adhering to the planned schedule, despite the challenges encountered.
Photo: 2TDK
The construction of the Divača–Koper double track was aimed at increasing transport capacity and train speeds, with the entire project also involving the modernization of the existing line.
As a result, it allows passenger trains to travel at speeds of 160 km/h, up from a maximum of 75 km/h, and freight trains at 120 km/h. Furthermore, the project has reduced the distance between Divača and Koper by 17.5 km and cut travel time by 80 minutes, from 110 minutes to just 30 minutes.
All these benefits will result in an increase in the line’s capacity by 114 trains, from 98 trains to 212 trains on the existing, modernized line, and with the commissioning of the second line, the number of trains will increase from 212 trains to 252 trains per day.
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