New Adriatic port rail link enters tests

Construction work in one of the nine tunnels on the 27 km Divača–Koper line, built through challenging karst terrain. The route has now entered testing ahead of commercial freight operations. Photo: 2TDK.

SLOVENIA: Test operations are under way on the new rail link to the Adriatic port of Koper, ahead of formal commissioning and entry into service.

Infrastructure company 2TDK will begin a measurement programme on 9 March, scheduled to run until 11 March, using a dedicated test train equipped with monitoring systems.

Most of the line is built as ballastless track, requiring extended verification of geometry and dynamic performance under controlled conditions.

Capacity upgrade for a freight bottleneck

The new line adds capacity on the corridor serving Koper, which has relied on a single-track connection to the national network. A largely separate route is intended to accommodate growing port-related freight volumes.

The railway runs predominantly in tunnels and across viaducts through karst terrain. In total, nine tunnels were constructed along the 27 km line.

During construction, 2TDK acknowledged technical challenges that led to higher costs and a revised timeline. After negotiations with contractors, the company said the deadline for completing the civil works has been set at 31 March 2026.