One of the greatest novelties is a direct rail link to Italy: the Ljubljana to Opicina train now runs two times a day, and from Opicina it is possible to reach Trieste by taking local buses.
However, the reintroduction of a rail connection to Venice is still under negotiation, the Slovenian Railways has reported. At the moment, the Ljubljana to Venice train runs via Villach.
An evening train to Zagreb
After lengthy negotiations, the Slovenian Railways has successfully established an additional rail connection to Croatia’s capital. The last train from Ljubljana leaves for Zagreb at 8.45 pm (previously at 6.35 pm), and the first train from Zagreb leaves for Ljubljana at 7.15 am (previously at 9.05 am).
Moreover, from now on train service to Pulj will be provided throughout the year: in the off season, local trains will run from Divača to Buzet and Buzet to Pulj (and vice versa), and during the summer holiday season, a train will run from Ljubljana to Pulj and vice versa.
Moscow, Budapest, Amsterdam and several other cities
During the summer, it will again be possible to take a train to Russia: between 27 June and 29 August, a sleeping car will run from Koper to Moscow (and vice versa) via Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor. The Koper to Moscow train will run on Tuesdays and Fridays, while the Moscow to Koper train will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The international Maribor to Budapest train runs again every day, and motorail service will still be provided from Den Bosch to Amsterdam, Ljubljana and Koper; the accompanied car train will run from as early as at the end of May, up to the end of August.
A few new railway lines in local traffic
The local traffic was subject to fewer changes, as merely timetables have been adjusted to passengers’ preferences.
Among the major changes made by the Slovenian Railways are the extension of the Ljubljana–Zidani Most rail line to Sevnica, the establishment of new rail links between Stranje and Celje, Sevnica and Trebnje, as well as Sevnica and Novo mesto, the expansion of rail service on the Ljubljana–Celje–Maribor rail line, and the extension of the Ljubljana–Višnja Gora rail line to Ivančna Gorica.
Air Serbia now operates daily flights between Ljubljana and Belgrade
The Serbian national airline Air Serbia has introduced daily scheduled flights from Ljubljana to Belgrade, and "opened the door to the East" for the Slovene passengers. At Air Serbia they explain that Ljubljana, with a population of approximately 260,000, is an administrative, a cultural and economic centre of Slovenia, and is a favourite destination for Serbian tourists, as "the city is surrounded by the magnificent Alpine landscape, offers an easy access to nearby golf courses, and holds several cultural events".
The passengers will be flying in an ATR72 aeroplane with a turboprop engine. If, for example, you decide to fly to the Serbian capital tomorrow evening and return on Thursday or Saturday morning, you will pay €109 for a return ticket (inclusive all airfares); however, if you decide to return on Friday or Sunday, you will pay €231 for a return ticket.
T. H., translated by D. M.
