The report, conducted by to Italian company Geodata Engineering, will serve the government as a basis for the financial plan for the project, which has been years in the making.

Geodata Engineering was tasked in June to draw up an estimate including all possible cost optimisations. Its first findings were submitted to the Infrastructure Ministry at the end of September.

Some media reported at the time the cost had been revised to under EUR 1bn, but others have pointed out the price will ultimately depend on what exactly will be built.

For example, the cost could be kept significantly lower by building a freight-only line, and by lowering the line item "unexpected costs".

A group of Slovenian economists and jurists who have taken it upon themselves to oversee the developments around the Divača-Koper project were critical of the review last week, describing it as unprofessional.

Economist Jože P. Damijan said its only purpose had been to confirm the original estimate made by the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency, the body of the Infrastructure Ministry that also picked Geodata Engineering for the review.

The group claims the costs are still over-inflated, with even the revised price estimate ensuring that many contractors will be able to line their pockets.