Slovenia Transportation

Two Pan-European transport corridors (No. V linking Barcelona and Kiev and No. X from Salzburg to Thessalonica) intersect at Ljubljana. Transit traffic has always played an important role and as the traditional transport and trade routes are being reopened, there is a clear upswing in road and rail transport services. An excellent track-record of Slovenian companies in this line of business coupled with modern transport infrastructure is a proven recipe for high-quality and cost-competitive services through Slovenia’s road and rail distribution network, freight forwarding and shipping services, goods handling, warehousing, safety of deliveries, maritime and inland logistic terminal operations and range of additional services according to the needs of client. Slovenia’s accession to the EU provides both Asian and EU manufacturers and traders with faster and more reliable trade routes that meet at fully equipped logistics centres.

According to the forecasts of the National Motorway Construction Programme in the Republic of Slovenia in the period 2003-2013, EUR 3.3 billion is being allocated to the construction and modernisation of the road network (motorways, public roads and railway system).

Transport corridors

Transport corridors through Slovenia

Source: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

Road network

The motorway density in Slovenia is higher than EU-25 average. The links with the neighbouring EU Member States and the southeast Europe is equally good as well. In other words, you will easily reach Slovenia from anywhere in Europe by car or lorry within a day or two.

Proportion of motorways compared to the total road network, 2004

Source: European Union Road Federation (ERF); European Road Statistics, 2007

Road network in Slovenia in km, 2006

	Road category					Off all roads
Roads TOTAL	Motorways	Speedways	Highways	Regional roads	Local roads	Roads with modern roadway	Internat. E-roads
38,562	505	74	929	4,887	13,811	26,047	634

Source: Ministry of Transport; The Directorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Roads

Implementation of the National Motorway Construction Programme began in 1994 when Slovenia had less than 200 km of motorways. Currently, there are about 505 km of well-maintained motorways and around 1,050 km of trunk roads. In the period from 1994 to the middle of 2007, more than 374 km of motorways, expressways and other roads have been built. The completion of the extended motorway network is scheduled for 2013.

Further information: Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia

Road contitions

NUMBER OF REGISTERED ROAD MOTOR VEHICLES

There were over 1,287,000 vehicles registered in Slovenia in 2007, of which 1,256,000 motor vehicles and 31,000 trailers.

At the end of 2007 there were more than 1,014,000 passenger cars (excluding special passenger cars) registered in Slovenia. This is equivalent to 501 cars per 1000 population.
In Slovenia almost 130,000 cars were registered for the first time, of which 74% vehicles were new and 26% vehicles were old. 72% of vehicles registered for the first time in Slovenia were in use by natural persons.

Share of passenger cars using diesel is still increasing

The share of passenger cars that used diesel to power their engines was 27% at the end of 2007. This share was 3 percentage points larger than in 2006. 72% of vehicles used petrol and less than 1% used alternative types of fuels.

Number of vehicles at the end of the year and number of first registrations, Slovenia, 1998 - 2007

Railway network

As railway service is regaining its importance, infrastructure modernisation on the Pan-European Transport Corridors No. V and X is one of national priorities. Freight traffic is well developed, and the rail links between the Adriatic Sea and the landlocked CEE countries offer plenty of opportunities. The density of the rail network in Slovenia is above the average density of EU-15 countries.

The Slovenian railway network is 2,193 km long. The latest addition to the Slovenian Railways network is the 43.5-km-long line between Slovenia and Hungary. This single-track non-electrified line for freight and passenger traffic enables speeds of up to 160 km/h. It was opened to traffic in 2001.

The broad network of railway lines enables "door-to-door" cargo transport services and the shunting yard in Ljubljana guarantees quick transport across Slovenia. Freight shipment in transit accounts for 90% of all freight shipments.

Both freight and passenger service with southeastern Europe has grown over the last few years.

The national rail operator Slovenian Railways (SŽ) runs both passenger and freight service and operates railway infrastructure including 60,000m2 of warehouses. It also provides combined transport services, and has container terminals in Ljubljana, Koper, Maribor and Celje. In 2006, Slovenian Railways transported 18.8 million tons of goods and its trains travelled 3,705 million tonnes-kilometres.

National and international railway goods transport (1000 tonns), 2005-2006

Source: Slovenian Railways

Passenger trains connect all parts of Slovenia. The Slovenian Railways network is linked to all major European cities with modern InterCity and EuroCity trains.

Maritime transport

Maritime cargo throughput in the Port of Koper, 2000–2007 (in 1000s of tons)

Source: Port of Koper, 2007

The Port of Koper, the largest of Slovenia's ports, represents the southern gateway to international commercial links between Europe and overseas. It lies on the shortest transport route linking commercial centres in Central and Eastern Europe with Mediterranean countries and countries along the Suez Canal. Shipping to the Port of Koper means gaining 7 to 10 days for ships arriving from Asia compared with sailing Europe’s northern ports. Your goods will be in Vienna, Munich or Prague in 24 hours or in two days’ time in Warsaw, Copenhagen or London. These facts have contributed to the development of the Port of Koper into a logistical and distribution centre significant at all times.

There are currently 11 modern and fully equipped terminals specialised for various types of goods. Port of Koper has also indoor and outdoor warehouses for general cargo and several special warehouses:

Indoor warehouses for general cargo, 275,400 m2
Special warehouses for fruit, 73,000 m2
Outdoor warehouses for general cargo, 960.000 m2
Grain silos, 60,000 tons
Soya warehouse, 55,000 tons
Reservoirs for liquid cargo, 53,647 m3
Depots for dry bulk, 110,000 m2

Companies can enjoy special advantages in the port’s economic zone, which spreads over an area of 4.7 mn km2 and features 324,000 m2 of covered and sheltered warehouse facilities and slightly less than 1 mn m2 of open-air storage. With its entire range of high-quality basic and additional port services, confirmed by acquisition of the ISO 9001 quality certificate, as well as with all the advantages offered by the port’s economic zone, the Port of Koper establishes opportunities for business success. In making contacts, it also offers logistical, marketing, financial, information and investment support.

The Port of Koper also pays great attention to the environment. An environmental management system was therefore introduced in accordance with ISO 14001 standards.

In the year 2007, the Port of Koper set a new record as the maritime throughput achieved the mark over 15.3 million tons, which represents a 9.5 percent increase in comparison to the year 2006. The number of loaded/unloaded wagons in the Port of Koper has increased for over 61 percent as well in the last five years.

Maritime cargo throughput structure in the Port of Koper in 2007

Source: Port of Koper, 2007

At present the port is considering further expansion and is also debating the possibility of expanding the railway network in the region, which could lead to a further boost in business.

Air transport

Ljubljana Airport, 25 km from the capital is the main Slovenian airport for passengers and cargo. It is the sixth biggest passenger airport in the new EU-10 members. The airport has been recently renovated, its infrastructure extended and the cargo terminal modernised. Regular and charter flights carry passengers to all important European destinations.

Ljubljana Airport in figures

		2004	2005	2006	2007
Passangers	928,397	1,048,238	1,218,896	1,334,355	1,524,028
Cargo in tons	12,018	11,780	11,560	15,308	21,717

Source: Ljubljana Airport, 2007

Maribor Airport mostly handles cargo transportation whereas Portorož Airport has facilities for smaller planes only.

The national carrier Adria Airways member of the Lufthansa group Star Alliance, boasts a modern fleet of aircraft.In 2007, Adria Airways realized a 14 percent increase in the overall number of passengers, and a 42 percent growth in freight traffic compared with the previous year.