Slovenia - General Information
Country Name
Slovenia (Republika Slovenija)
National railway system
National Railway Operator
Slovenske Železnice (SŽ). This is essentially the former JŽ Ljubljana Division, less lines in Istria that are now in Croatia.
Language
Slovene.
Currency
Euro.
UIC code
numeric 79; alpha SLO.
Timetable
Journey Planner
http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passengers
Downloadable Timetable
Slovenija Vozni redi Vozni red po relacijah 2014/2015 (second tab down on the left hand side)
Printed Timetable
Vozni Red. This includes introductory material in German and French. Some non-standard symbols are used to indicate days of the week on which trains run.
Engineering Information
http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/sl/potniki/slovenija/vozni-redi/ovire-v-prometu Only in Slovenian.
Maps
Printed Maps
- “Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia” (ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1) published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH in German and Italian, similar to atlases from the same publisher for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- European Railway Atlas: Scandinavia and Eastern Europe by M.G. Ball (1993) (ISBN 0-7110-2072-4)
- European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)
- SŽ publishes the "Turistièna Karta Slovenskih Železnic" which shows Slovenian railways on a 1:300000 general map. Electrified and double-track lines are distinguished and most freight lines are shown. Brief notes are given, in English, German, Italian and Slovene, on features of general interest at many towns.
Web-based Maps
- Thorsten Büker's Map of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
- Maps and Plans - Slovenia
Ticketing
Higher fares are charged for travel on express trains (Intercity Slovenija, Eurocity, Intercity or Mednarodni), but by West European standards all fares are very cheap. There is no known network ticket.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Authority
Slovenske Železnice appears to act as its own infrastructure authority
Network Statement
The Network Statement page > Network Statement of the Republic of Slovenia 2014.
Gauge
Standard.
Electrification
3 kV dc.
Rule of the road
Left, except between Zidani Most and Dobova/Savski Marof.
Distances
Detailed distances can be found in the following:
- Network Statement Annex 3.1a.: Technical data of rail lines and stations - lines
- “Atlante ferroviaro d'Italia e Slovenia” (ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1) published by Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH in German and Italian, similar to atlases from the same publisher for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Other railways
None.
Tourist lines
None, but an electric narrow-gauge railway conveys visitors through spectacular caves near Postojna.
Metro
None.
Trams
None.
Recent and future changes
SŽ services between Sežana and Villa Opicina were reinstated on 5 January 2015, replacing substitute bus services, following approval for the 312 'Desiro' units by the Italian authorities. The daytime service between Venezia and Ljubljana ceased to run west of Villa Opicina from 1 April 2008 because FS would no longer allow SŽ trains lacking the Italian train protection system to run on their lines. The train was cut back further to Sežana on 12 April 2008, leaving the overnight Venezia - Budapest train as the only cross-border service, but that was withdrawn in December 2011.
The following lines reopened at the timetable change on 14 December 2014:
- 32 Sveti Rok ob Sotli - Đurmanec (Croatia)
- 40 Središče - Macinec (Croatia)
- 40 Mursko Središče (Croatia) - Lendava
The cross-border service between (Metlika -) Rosalnice and Kamanje (Croatia) (- Karlovac) was reinstated on 15 December 2013, having lost its passenger service on 9 December 2012.
It has been reported that passenger services to Koper will be withdrawn in the near future in order to create more paths for freight trains. The port of Koper is becoming busier owing to its being far more efficient than Trieste.
Proposals for a new line between Koper and Trieste (Italy) are being studied.
The 1km branch-line from Ljubljana Polje to BTC City Ljubljana opened in 2005 or 2006.
The seasonal train from Ljubljana to Pula ( Croatia ) which used the border crossing from Rakitovec to Buzet ( Croatia) does not run in the 2012-2013 timetable, thereby closing this frontier to passenger services.
Special Notes
Most internal passenger services are worked by multiple-units calling at most or all stations.
The only means of travelling to and from Italy is either the approximately hourly bus service between Trieste and Koper stations or the more frequent buses between Goricia and Nova Gorica station.