Transport and infrastructure

While all sectors significantly reduced CO² emissions between 1990 and 2022, emissions related to transport have increased a staggering 123%. We need to change our approach and make public transport the preferred method of transport for individuals and employers. Due to the geography of Slovenia, with many small villages in hilly or mountainous terrain, it is difficult to provide attractive, frequent and fast public transport everywhere. Private transport, mostly by car, will therefore retain an important role in the overall mobility patterns. 

However, more sustainable choices must be supported to relieve our road system and environment from the burden of individual and freight transport and we have to better take into account externalities that also include noise pollution, congestion and effects on health.

Volt Slovenija proposes:

Increased availability public transport

• Create the railway and bus infrastructure and reliability to use them to move half of the 900.000 daily car commuters to public transport.

• Ensure sufficient park and ride (P+R) capacities with electric charging infrastructure in proximity to highways/train lines for seamless connectivity to medium and long distance busses and trains.

Reliable harmonised transport schedule

• Introduce clock-face public transport schedules across the country with at least one train (bus) at the same minute every (second) hour following Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

• Offer at least 1 train per hour (always at the same minute) on all main lines. Regional routes may be reduced to 1 train every 2 hours during lunch, evenings, weekends and holidays.

• Offer at least 1 fast train (intercity/pendolino) per hour between Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor, every 30 minutes at peak times and at least 1 train every 30 minutes on suburban lines around Ljubljana (to Kamnik, Litija; Grosuplje, Kranj).

• Coordinate arrival and departure times with short transfer windows between trains, local and regional bus lines at main transfer points (Ljubljana, Zidani Most, Celje, Pragersko, Maribor, Jesenice, Pivka, Divača, Sežana, Trebnje, Sevnica).

• Introduce coordinated motorway intercity bus lines on connections the rail network cannot offer competitive travel times (Postojna - Ajdovščina - Nova Gorica - Gorizia, Maribor - Murska Sobota) and add the connections to the international train timetable database, so they can be found and booked by applications alongside trains.

High Speed rail network and capacity

• Invest into rail infrastructure to reduce journey times and offer a seamless integrated timetable so Ljubljana-Celje, Celje-Maribor, Ljubljana-Jesenice and Ljubljana-Postojna can be done in less than 45 minutes.

• Create double-track capacities where needed (single track may be sufficient) for allowing 1 train per 15 minutes in peak hours on Ljubljana-Kamnik, Ljubljana-Grosuplje and Ljubljana-Kranj lines also serving the airport.

Improved crossborder connectivity

• Improve cross-border travel by offering at least 1 train every 2 hours for the following connections:

  • Ljubljana - Kranj - Jesenice - Villach (Beljak) (onwards to Salzburg and Munich)

  • Ljubljana - Zidani Most - Krško - Zagreb (onwards to Slavonski Brod, Beograd)

  • Ljubljana - Celje - Maribor - Leibnitz - Graz (Gradec) (onwards to Vienna (Dunaj))

  • Ljubljana - Postojna - Villa Opicina (Opčine) - Trieste (Trst) Airport (onwards to Udine (Videm), Venice (Benetke))

• Improve regional cross-border travel by offering at least 1 train every 2 hours for the following connections:

  • Maribor – Dravograd – Bleiburg (Pliberk)

  • Sežana – Villa Opicina – Trieste Centrale (Trst)

  • Postojna – Ilirska Bistrica – Rijeka

  • Metlika – Karlovac 

  • Rogaška Slatina – Krapina

  • Ormož – Čakovec – Mursko Središće – Lendava 

  • Hodoš – Zalaegerszeg

  • Jesenice – Villach (Beljak) (1 train per hour)

  • Maribor – Spielfeld-Strass (1 train per hour)

  • Nova Gorica – Gorizia Centrale (Gorica) (1 direct bus transfer per hour)

  • Dobova – Zaprešić – Zagreb (1 train per hour, per 30 minutes during peak hours)

Airport railway connectivity

• Ensure that Jože Pučnik airport is served by high-speed railway to make it easily accessible from all regions. A business-friendly environment that extends beyond Ljubljana must also include accessibility and connectivity for air travel.

Reduced transit truck traffic and pollution

• Set up ‘rolling highway’ train routes to transport road trucks by rail in cooperation with neighbouring member states to offer attractive longer routes such as Salzburg-Zagreb, Metre-Zagreb,  Fernetiči-Budapest or Koper-Vienna.

• Once set up, make usage mandatory for trucks that do not have a final destination in Ljubljana to decrease transit truck traffic on roads. 

Improved bike network

• Support building a more sophisticated bike infrastructure starting with all large cities building on the expertise of countries like the Netherlandsbuilding on the expertise of countries like the Netherlands.

• Connect the three Eurovelo tracks to the main Slovenian tourist destination to allow visiting them by bike. We’re still a 3rd world country with regards to bicycle infrastructure and should make an effort to increase the potential of more sustainable tourism.

(version 2025-02)