European recovery and resilience funding – Together towards the goal: increasing railway infrastructure capacity

SLOVENIA, May 20 - During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous public transport services were temporarily reduced or suspended. The use of public transport declined significantly during this period – by more than one third – while car use increased.

After the pandemic, public transport services have been gradually recovering. Rail passenger numbers have even exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In 2025, approximately 20.9 million passengers were transported, more than seven million more than in 2019, when 13.9 million passengers used rail services. 

With the aim of strengthening sustainable mobility, extensive investments in railway infrastructure have been made in recent years, primarily with the support of various European funds, including funding provided under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) to support the recovery of Member States following the pandemic. The investment to increase railway infrastructure capacity, implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency, is the largest financial investment under the RRP.

A total of EUR 292.61 million has been allocated for the implementation of the largest investment under the RRP, of which EUR 216.30 million is in grants and EUR 76.31 million in loans from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The investment comprises eight projects, the majority of which have already been completed. Project contractors have already been paid 99 per cent of all allocated funds.

With European recovery and resilience funding, Slovenia has upgraded 49 kilometres of railway lines, three railway stations, and an overpass as part of the upgrade of Ljubljana railway station. In total, just under 76 kilometres of tracks and 82 kilometres of overhead line equipment have been upgraded, and just under 29 kilometres of noise barriers have been installed alongside the tracks. 

About the projects:

• Upgrade of the Grosuplje railway station – The European Union contributed EUR 13 million from the RRF for the implementation of the project, which was completed in July 2022. Two new island platforms with canopies were constructed at the railway station, and the track infrastructure was renewed. The station building received a new façade, roof covering, and joinery, and the waiting area and sanitary facilities were refurbished. A new underpass with lifts beneath the railway tracks was constructed, providing access from both sides of the station, along with an additional underpass in the Sončni dvori area. A new 24.52-metre overpass was also constructed, improving the alignment of the main running track. Noise barriers with a total length of 487 metres were installed.
• Reconstruction of the Domžale railway station – The European Union contributed EUR 10.41 million from the RRF for the implementation of the project, which was completed in July 2023. A new side platform and island platform, each 160 metres long and equipped with canopies, were constructed. A total of 1,360 metres of tracks and five switches were renewed.  The station building received a new façade, roof and joinery, and the waiting area, ticket office, sanitary facilities, and technical premises were refurbished. A 31-metre underpass with lifts beneath the railway tracks was constructed, providing safe access to the platforms and connecting both sides of the station. New signalling, telecommunications and electrical installation systems were installed, and a new car park, bicycle storage facilities and bus turning area were constructed.
• Upgrade of the Nova Gorica railway station – The European Union contributed EUR 40.05 million from the RRF for the implementation of the project, which was completed in January 2025. Two new platforms with canopies were constructed, along with a new 57-metre underpass equipped with lifts and staircases, enabling passengers to access the station from both sides. The refurbishment of the station building, carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, included the renovation of technical premises, the waiting room and ticket office, and the partial refurbishment of the façade and the platform canopy. Tracks and track infrastructure spanning just under seven kilometres were upgraded. A new loading ramp for car trains was constructed, signalling, telecommunications and electrical installation systems were upgraded, and a passenger information system was put in place. A new car park, bus stop and a 250-metre access road were also constructed.
• Upgrade of the Ljubljana–Jesenice–state border railway line – The European Union contributed just over EUR 100 million from the RRF for the implementation of two projects, which were completed in September 2022. The sections Kranj–Podnart, Podnart–Lesce Bled, Lesce Bled–Žirovnica, Žirovnica–Slovenski Javornik, and Slovenski Javornik–Jesenice were upgraded, and more than 32 kilometres of railway line were renewed. On the Kranj–Podnart section, dilapidated bridges were repaired, level crossings were removed, and a new underpass at Ovsiše near the Podnart station was constructed. Noise barriers were installed, and Kranj substations were upgraded. On the Podnart–Lesce Bled section, the Otoče, Globoko and Radovljica stops were refurbished, the Globoko and Radovljica tunnels were rehabilitated, a new underpass in Zaloše and a new pedestrian underpass in Radovljica were constructed. On the Lesce Bled–Žirovnica–Slovenski Javornik–Jesenice sections, Žirovnica and Slovenski Javornik stations were upgraded, the Žirovnica tunnel was rehabilitated, drainage systems were improved, and noise barriers totalling 10.43 kilometres and multiple retaining walls were constructed.
• Upgrade of the Ljubljana–Divača railway line – The European Union contributed just over EUR 91.98 million from the Facility for the implementation of two projects, covering a total of 16.5 km of upgraded railway line, which were completed in May 2025. The Ljubljana–Brezovica, Brezovica–Preserje, and Preserje–Borovnica sections were upgraded. A total of 34.93 kilometres of tracks were upgraded, along with 41.14 kilometres of overhead line equipment to improve electrification and service reliability, and 17.62 kilometres of noise barriers were installed. The Tivoli stop was upgraded and the bridge over the Mali Graben was replaced. The Notranje Gorice stop was refurbished and provided with new platform infrastructure. A 33.5-metre replacement bridge was constructed in Notranje Gorice, and signalling and safety systems were upgraded. As part of the renovation of the Borovnica station, a new 160-metre-long side platform and a 240-metre-long island platform with canopies and associated equipment were built, along with a new 24.3-metre-long underpass. The station building received a new façade, and the waiting room and sanitary facilities were refurbished. 
• Construction of the railway overpass over Dunajska cesta as part of the upgrade of the Ljubljana railway station (Phase A) – The European Union allocated EUR 33 million from the RRF for the implementation of the project, which was completed in April this year. The construction of a replacement railway overpass included the replacement and widening of the structure of the existing railway overpass. Five tracks were installed on the overpass, while a sixth track will be installed when the Gorenjska line is upgraded to a double track line. Signalling, telecommunications, and fixed installations of electrical traction devices were adjusted. As part of the project, the road of Dunajska cesta was lowered and a pumping station was installed to improve stormwater drainage. 

Two milestones related to the award of public procurement contracts for the implementation of project works were included by Slovenia in the second request for payment of European funds from the Facility, which the European Commission paid in full in December 2023. The target related to the upgrade of the Grosuplje and Domžale railway stations formed part of the fourth payment request, which has already been paid. The target related to the length of reconstructed railway lines was included by Slovenia under the fifth payment request, which has also been paid. A portion of the final payment request to be submitted by Slovenia to Brussels will include the target related to the two projects: the construction of the railway overpass over Dunajska cesta in Ljubljana and the upgrade of the railway station in Nova Gorica.