Public transport gaining popularity
Campaigns and freebies promoting public transportation in Slovenia appear to have been successful with the national rail operator and the Ljubljana coach station and bus company all reporting higher passenger figures for 2023.
The number of rail passengers increased by more than 20% in 2022, exceeding the pre-pandemic figure recorded in 2019, and further rose in 2023, Slovenian Railways said on 8 January. Interest in rail travel increased in domestic and international transport.
Moreover, four engines and 20 cars are to arrive in 2026 in what will significantly expand international transport options provided by the operator.
In the future, Slovenian Railways would like to see additional high-speed tilting trains as well as more investment, upgrades, double-tracking, and electrification of regional lines.
The company also has high hopes for the new passenger terminal in Ljubljana, whose completion is slated for 2026. The terminal should allow for a one-third increase in throughput on commuter routes linking the capital and other towns.
Last year's ridership also exceeded the figure recorded in the pre-Covid year of 2019, and bus rides in the capital are expected to attract even more passengers once the LPP fleet receives new hydrogen and electric buses.
Reporting figures for 2023, the operator of Ljubljana's main coach station also noted that public bus transportation is coming out the other end following three challenging years brought on by the Covid pandemic.
International passenger transport reached pre-pandemic levels last year, both in terms of passenger numbers and routes, and in domestic transport, the figures have nearly recovered.
Not counting city buses, over 26 million passengers passed through the station in 2023. At the monthly level, an estimated 20% of foreign tourists visiting Ljubljana used bus services to get to the city, the AP Ljubljana operator said on 11 January.
