The news has been confirmed by Slovenian rail operator Slovenske Železnice, which told the STA technical procedures were currently under way to certify the Italian trains which will operate the route.

Miloš Rovšnik, deputy director of Slovenske Železnice, recently told Radio Slovenija the talks with Trenitalia focused on scheduling the trains to benefit passengers flying out of and into Trieste.

The train station at Trieste Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport is scheduled to open on 19 March.

There is already a rail connection to Venice, but it requires passengers to transfer at Vila Opicina on the border and take the bus to Trieste.

The price of the journey to Trieste is roughly nine euro, and this is the price point the new direct service will aim for, according to Rovšnik.

Slovenia and Italy have not had a direct rail passenger service since the night train between Hungary's Budapest and Venice via Croatia's Zagreb and Ljubljana was discontinued in December 2011 because the Hungarian and Italian railway operators failed to agree on contractual terms.