SLOVENIA: Construction of the second line linking the port of Koper to the SŽ network at Divača was officially launched on May 5 by Minister of Infrastructure Jernej Vrtovec and representatives of state-owned project promoter 2TDK and the contractors.
The ceremony followed the signing on the same day of the €403·6m contract for contractors Kolektor CPG, Yapı Merkezi and Özaltin to build the Divača – Črni Kal section of the new route. A €224·7m contract covering the Črni Kal – Koper section had been signed on March 31.
The 27·1 km single-track line on a new alignment is branded as the Second Track, as it will form a double-track route in conjunction with the existing 44·3 km single-track line.
The new line will be used by trains heading uphill and inland, with trains running down towards the port using the steeply graded existing line. On completion the Second Track is expected to reduce the transit time for freight trains as well as increasing the capacity of the branch significantly.
Civil works will include eight tunnels totalling 20·5 km and two 1 100 m viaducts.
The €1·194bn project is being financed with €400m from the national budget, €250m of EU funding, €250m from the European Investment Bank and Slovenian export & development bank SID, and a €112·5m loan from banking group NLB, along with revenues from increases in road tolls and railway infrastructure charges.
When the Slovenian government first announced the project it argued that it was necessary to ensure the competitiveness of the country’s only port, although opponents said the scheme was too expensive. A referendum in September 2017 saw 53·5% of voters back the project.
Opening is now expected in 2026.
