View source for Slovenian Railways

{{Short description|State railway company of Slovenia}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2008}}
{{Infobox rail network
|name            =  Slovenian Railways
|color           = 
|logo            =  Slovenske_železnice_wordmark_logo.svg
|image           = Ljubljana, 510-018.jpg
|nationalrailway = Slovenske železnice
|infrastructure  = 
|majoroperators  = 
|ridership       = 13.42 million <small>(2017)</small><ref name=UICRS>{{cite web |url=https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/uic-statistics-synopsis-2017.pdf |title=Railway Statistics – 2017 Synopsis |publisher=International Union of Railways, IUC |date=2017 |format=PDF |access-date=11 June 2019 }}</ref>
|passkm          = 650 million km <small>(2017)</small><ref name=UICRS />
|freight         =  4.4 billion tonne-km <small>(2017)</small><ref name=UICRS />
|length          =   {{convert|1209|km|mi}}<ref name=UICRS />
|doublelength    = {{convert|331|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=UICRS />
|ellength        =  {{convert|610|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=UICRS />
|freightlength   = 
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|hsgauge         = {{RailGauge|sg}}
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|map             = [[File:Railway map of Slovenia.png|250px]]
|}}{{Distinguish|Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko|Železnice Slovenskej republiky|text=}}
'''Slovenian Railways''' ({{langx|sl|Slovenske železnice}}, '''SŽ''') is the state [[railway]] company of [[Slovenia]], created in 1991.

Slovenia is a member of the [[International Union of Railways]] (UIC). The [[UIC Country Code]] for Slovenia is 79.

==History==
{{main|History of rail transport in Slovenia}}

[[File:Muzejski vlak Slovenia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Steam locomotive]] SŽ 25-026, manufactured in 1920 in Vienna, used by Slovenske železnice for tourism]] 
What is now [[Slovenia]] received its first railway connection in the 1840s, when the [[Austrian Empire]] built a railway connection – Südliche Staatsbahn or [[Austrian Southern Railway]] – between its capital, [[Vienna]], and its major commercial port, [[Trieste]]. Thus, [[Maribor railway station|Maribor]] was connected by railway to [[Graz Hauptbahnhof|Graz]] in 1844. The stretch was extended via [[Pragersko railway station|Pragersko]] to [[Celje railway station|Celje]] in 1846, and further via [[Zidani Most railway station|Zidani Most]] to [[Ljubljana railway station|Ljubljana]] in 1849. A double-track line was continued via [[Postojna railway station|Postojna]], [[Pivka railway station|Pivka]], and [[Divača railway station|Divača]], finally reaching [[Trieste]] in 1857.

Before [[World War I]], numerous other railways were built. In 1860, Pragersko was connected to [[Ormož railway station|Ormož]] and further to [[Čakovec]], Croatia, thus connecting the Austrian and the Hungarian parts of the empire. In 1862, a single-track railway (expanded into double-track in 1944) along the [[Sava|Sava river]] was built, connecting Zidani Most with [[Zagreb]]. In 1863, the "Carinthian railway" was built along the [[Drava]] river, connecting [[Maribor railway station|Maribor]] with [[Dravograd railway station|Dravograd]], [[Klagenfurt Hauptbahnhof|Klagenfurt]] and [[Villach Hauptbahnhof|Villach]]. In 1870, a railway along the upper Sava river valley was built, connecting Ljubljana with [[Kranj railway station|Kranj]], [[Jesenice railway station|Jesenice]] and [[Tarvisio]], Italy. In 1873, a line from Pivka via [[Ilirska Bistrica railway station|Illirska Bistrica]] connected [[Rijeka]], then the most important commercial port in the Hungarian part of the empire. In 1876, a line from Divača connected [[Pula]], the Austrian naval base, via [[Prešnica]]. In 1906, [[Bohinj Railway]] was built, connecting Villach with Jesenice, along the [[Soča]] river valley to [[Gorizia]] and further to Trieste, with two over 6000 meter tunnels.

Few lines were opened after World War I. One of them connected Ormož with [[Ljutomer railway station|Ljutomer]] and [[Murska Sobota railway station|Murska Sobota]], and opened in 1924. After [[World War II]], a single-track electrified line connecting Prešnica with [[Koper railway station|Koper]] was built in 1967.

'''Slovenian Railways''' ({{langx|sl|Slovenske železnice}}, ''SŽ''), the state [[railway]] company of [[Slovenia]], was created in 1991 from the [[Ljubljana]] division of the former [[Yugoslav Railways]] after the breakup of [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]].

In 1999, a single-track line between Murska Sobota and [[Hodoš railway station|Hodoš]] was rebuilt, offering a direct connection with the Hungarian railway system. The line was originally built in 1907 and closed down in 1968, among numerous other lines closed down during the 1960s. In April 2016 the electrification of the Pragersko - Hodoš line was completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.railjournal.com/regions/europe/slovenia-completes-pragersko-hodo-electrification/|title=Slovenia completes electrification of rail link to Hungary|date=June 13, 2016}}</ref>

Numerous ex-[[Yugoslav Railways]] [[steam locomotive]]s are plinthed at stations around Slovenia and there is a [[Slovenian Railway Museum|railway museum]] at Ljubljana.

== Rolling stock ==
{{Main|Rolling stock of the Slovenian Railways}}
<gallery widths=150 class=center>
File:Slovenian Pendolino at Zidani Most.jpg|[[SŽ series 310]]
File:SŽ_510-515_-_006.jpg|[[SŽ series 510]]
File:Stadler_KISS_Slovenske_železnice_Slovenian_railways.jpg|[[SŽ series 313]]
File:StadlerDMUžalec.jpg|Stadler FLIRT DMU (SŽ [[Stadler FLIRT#Slovenia|610/615]])
File:SŽ 312 317 2.jpg|Siemens Desiro ([[:sl:SŽ serija 312/317|SŽ 312/317]])
File:SŽ 713 715.jpg|[[SŽ series 713/715|SŽ 713/715]]
File:SŽ_Fiat_814_Maribor.jpg|[[:sl:SŽ serija 813/814|SŽ 813/814]]
</gallery>

==System==
[[File:Bank engine SZ Taurus.jpg|alt=|thumb|Freight train [[EuroSprinter|SŽ 541-102]]]]
Slovenian Railways operates 1,229&nbsp;km of [[standard gauge]] tracks, 331&nbsp;km as [[double track]], and reaches all regions of the country. Slovenia is well connected by rail to all surrounding countries, reflecting the fact that it used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later part of Yugoslavia. Left-hand running is used on double-track sections, unlike the remainder of the former Yugoslavian railways.

Electrification is provided by a 3&nbsp;kV DC system and covers 610&nbsp;km, with electrification from Pragersko to Hodoš on the Corridor V completed in April 2016. The remainder of the former Yugoslavian railways that have been electrified operate with the [[25 kV AC]] system, so trains to Zagreb have to change engines at [[Dobova]] in the absence of dual voltage engines. The DC system was inherited from the Italian [[Ferrovie dello Stato]] on the Sežana-Pivka-Postojna and Pivka-Ilirska Bistrica-Šapjane lines, which were electrified in 1936; starting in 1962, further electrification was conducted with the same system, to preserve compatibility. This also necessitated different rolling stock compared to the rest of Yugoslavia: after [[World War II]], the newly formed Slovenian division of [[Yugoslav Railways]] received 17 [[FS Class E.626]] locomotives as war reparations for operation on the formerly Italian-owned lines, with newly produced electrical traction vehicles coming in 1962 after electrification was extended from Postojna to Ljubljana ([[HŽ Series 1061|JŽ class 362]]), 1964 ([[PKP class EN57|JŽ class 311]]), 1967 (JŽ Class 342) and 1975-1977 ([[SŽ series 363|JŽ class 363]]). Due to the Croatian sector of the national railways (as well as the sectors of the other republics of Yugoslavia) choosing the more modern [[25 kV AC|25 kV system]], a voltage break was created in [[Dobova]], which necessitates locomotive switching. Another voltage break arose in Croatia in [[Šapjane]] in 2012 after Croatia switched their own 3 kV network that ran around [[Rijeka]] to the 25 kV standard.

==Rail links to adjacent countries==
* Same gauge
** [[Rail transport in Austria|Austria]] &nbsp;—  voltage change to 15 kV AC
** [[Rail transport in Croatia|Croatia]] &nbsp;— voltage change to 25 kV 50&nbsp;Hz AC
** [[Rail transport in Hungary|Hungary]] &nbsp;— voltage change to 25 kV 50&nbsp;Hz AC
** [[Rail transport in Italy|Italy]] &nbsp;— same voltage 3 kV DC

==Crossroad of Pan-European corridors==
[[Ljubljana]] is at the heart of the SŽ system. Here, the [[Pan-European corridors]] V and X intersect. These transportation corridors are being established to tie larger segments of Europe economically together: Corridor V links [[Venice]] - [[Trieste]]/[[Koper]] - [[Ljubljana]] - [[Maribor]] - [[Budapest]] - [[Kyiv]], while Corridor X connects [[Salzburg]] - [[Ljubljana]] - [[Zagreb]] - [[Belgrade]] - [[Skopje]] - [[Thessalonica]]. The freight system to Koper, a modern and growing port near Trieste, represents the shortest connection to the Mediterranean for a large portion of the [[hinterland]] of Central and Eastern Europe.

In 2010, Slovenske Železnice joined [[Cargo 10]], a joint venture with other railways in the region.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2010/09/16/from-berlin-to-beijing
|access-date=2010-09-26
|title=Balkan railways: From Berlin to Beijing? | newspaper= The Economist
|date=26 September 2010
}}</ref>

==Passenger trains==

===InterCity Slovenija (ICS)===
[[File:29.12.2012, SŽ 310, Ljubljana, Slovenia (16493631710).jpg|alt=|thumb|ICS Pendolino ETR-310 serving as fast train between Ljubljana and Maribor.]]
The [[SŽ series 310|ICS]] trains are modern, air-conditioned [[High-speed rail|high-speed trains]] which provide the highest level comfort and reach speeds up to 160&nbsp;km/h. They are equipped with disabled access and other facilities. The passengers can buy food on board (from Monday to Friday), the 1st class passengers are offered a drink free of charge. There are also electric sockets in the 1st class department. The train is a [[tilting train|tilting]] [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]. The reservation of a seat is obligatory and is included in the price of the ticket. Also included in the price of the ticket is the obligatory ICS supplement.<ref>{{cite web | title=Vrste vlakov | website=Slovenske železnice | date=2020-04-20 | url=https://potniski.sz.si/vrste-vlakov/ | language=sl | access-date=2020-10-17}}</ref>

The ICS trains run on the line between [[Maribor]] and [[Ljubljana]] and stop at:

*[[Maribor]]
**''connection to [[Dolga Brda|Holmec]] and onwards to Austria''
*[[Pragersko]]
**''connection to [[Središče ob Dravi|Središče]]''
**''connection to [[Hodoš]] and onwards to Hungary''
*[[Celje]]
**''connection to [[Velenje]]''
**''connection to [[Dobovec pri Rogatcu|Sveti Rok ob Sotli]]''
**''connection to [[Imeno]]''
*[[Zidani Most]]
**''connection to [[Dobova]] and onwards to Croatia''
*[[Ljubljana]]
**''connection to [[Rosalnice]] and onwards to Croatia''
**''connection to [[Jesenice, Jesenice|Jesenice]] and onwards to Austria''
**''connection to [[Kamnik|Kamnik Graben]]''
**''connection to [[Kočevje]]''

In the past ICS trains occasionally also ran on the line from [[Ljubljana]] to [[Koper]] and stopped at:
*[[Pivka]]
**''connection to [[Ilirska Bistrica]] and onwards to Croatia''
*[[Divača]]
**''connection to [[Sežana]]''
*[[Hrpelje-Kozina]]
**''connection to [[Rakitovec, Koper|Rakitovec]] and onwards to Croatia''
*[[Koper]]

===InterCity (IC)===
The [[InterCity|IC]] trains are quality trains serving longer distances in national and international traffic. They connect bigger towns, cities and tourist resorts. They consist of comfortable cars. They provide fast connection and call only at major stations. The train usually consists of open or compartment coaches (1st and 2nd class). Some of the trains may have a [[restaurant car]]. An IC supplement must be paid for this type of train.

===EuroCity (EC)===
The [[EuroCity|EC]] trains are high-quality trains serving important lines in international traffic. They connect important cities in Slovenia and the rest of Europe. The EC trains are even faster than the IC trains and they call at fewer stations. The majority of the EC trains include air-conditioned cars and have catering facilities on board. The train usually consists of open and compartment passenger coaches (1st and 2nd class). Some of the trains may have a [[restaurant car]]. An EC supplement must be paid for this type of train.

===International trains (MV)===
The MV trains (Slovene for ''mednarodni vlak'', international train) are quality trains serving international lines. They do not call at minor stations. The train usually consists of open and compartment passenger coaches (1st and 2nd class). Some of the trains may have a [[restaurant car]]. An MV supplement must be paid for this type of train.

===EuroNight (EN)===
The [[EuroNight|EN]] trains are high-quality overnight international trains. They offer open or compartment passenger coaches (1st and 2nd class), [[couchette car]]s and [[sleeping car]]s. Some of the trains may have a [[restaurant car]]. The EC supplement must be paid for regular seats and an additional supplement must be paid for couchettes and sleeper cars. Some EN trains use "global" prices with an obligatory reservation.

===Regional (RG) and local trains (LP)===
The RG and LP (Slovene for ''lokalni potniški'', local passenger train) trains are other trains, connecting all parts of Slovenia. They serve as commuter trains. On some lines, they are the only type of trains available, for example lines to [[Kamnik]] and [[Imeno]]. The trains offer 2nd class and the new Stadler trains also offer 1st class. They are usually [[Electrical multiple units|EMU]]s and [[Diesel multiple units|DMU]]s on unelectrified lines.

===Supplements===
In addition to the supplements for faster trains, there is also one for tickets bought on the train instead of beforehand.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/Error404|title=Slovenske železnice - Error404 - Slovenske železnice|website=www.slo-zeleznice.si}}</ref> It is set at [[Euro|€]]5.00, and no discount is available for children, the elderly, groups, and so on.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===Named trains===
Many trains are assigned names. The examples include:<ref name="auto"/>
*IC 502 / 503 "[[Pohorje]]"
*IC 508 / 509 "Dana"
*IC 518 / 519 "[[Ptuj]]"
*IC 516 / 517 "Mura"
*EC 150 / 151 "[[Emona]]"
*EC 158 / 159 "[[Croatia]]"
*EC 210 / 211 "[[Sava]]"
*EC 212 / 213 "[[Mimara Museum|Mimara]]"
*EN 414 / 415 "[[Alps|Alpine Pearls]]"
*EN 498 / 499 "[[Vatroslav Lisinski|Lisinski]]"
*MV 246 / 247 "[[Citadella]]"
*MV 480 / 481 "[[Opatija]]"
*MV 482 / 483 "[[Ljubljana]]"
*MV 1472 / 1473 "[[Istria|Istra]]"
*RG 1604 / 1605 "[[Istria|Istra]]"
*RG 600 / 601 "[[Soča]]"

===Former named trains===
A noted train of the SŽ was the ''Casanova'' linking Ljubljana to [[Venice]] in a 4-hour ride, eliminated in April 2007.
Last train connection with Italy, night train EN 440 / 441 "[[Venice|Venezia]]" from [[Budapest]] to Venice was eliminated in December 2011.

== Railway operators ==
Besides Slovenia's national railway operator, [[Adria Transport]], Slovenia's first [[open-access operator]] dedicated to freight transport, also operates in the nation's network.

== See also ==
* [[Slovenian Railway Museum]]
* [[:Category:Railway lines in Slovenia|Railway lines in Slovenia]]
* [[Spielfeld-Straß–Trieste railway]] - This line connects Slovenia and Italy
* [[List of steam locomotives in Slovenia]]
* [[Transport in Slovenia]]
* [[Narrow gauge railways in Slovenia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.sz.si/en/  Official site in English]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091026200307/http://geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/3976/yurail.html Site for railways of the former Yugoslavia]
* [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/croatia---slovenia---bosnia-hercegovina/croatia---slovenia---bosnia-hercegovina.gif Map]
* [http://trainspo.com/country/200/gallery/ SŽ stock list gallery]

{{Slovenia topics}}
{{SŽ rolling stock}}
{{National railway companies of Europe}}
{{Rail transport in Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Slovenian brands]]
[[Category:Railway companies of Slovenia]]
[[Category:Government-owned railway companies]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of Slovenia]]