Koper rail project
Photo: Government Communication Office
Construction has begun on the largest civil engineering project in Slovenian history - a new rail link connecting the deep-sea Port of Koper, in the north of the Adriatic Sea, with the the main international railway junction at Divača.
The current modernisation project is expected to increase rail cargo capacity from 9.2 million tonnes to 14 million tonnes a year.
However, projection figures have estimated that 35 million tonnes will be necessary by 2030, leading to the Slovenian government giving the go-ahead to the construction of a second railway line.
The new connection will increase the capacity of the Koper port to transport cargo inland to around 43 million tonnes per year.
The construction work will be undertaken by the government-owned company 2TDK.
Ground was broken on the project in March, with construction of service roads to the site of future tunnels. The new line is expected to come into service in 2025.
The Slovenian government is preparing an application to the EU for some €250-million in fund to help pay towards the project.
Infrastructure Minister Peter Gašperšič said that funding from the EU would be vital for the project's financial sustainability, though he did add that without them there was still some room for manoeuvre, such as changes in share capital or increased borrowing.
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