How are they increasing?

In the three Benelux countries and the DACH countries, the fuel fee for trucks will rise by 7%, just like the one for barge and BCO, while the one for RCO by 4%. In both areas these increases will be valid between 30 March and 13 April. In Poland, for trucking services the rises will be +12% while for RCO 6% during the same period.

For Italy, 8% and 3% but they will be effective from 1 April and will be reviewed two weeks later. In Slovenia, Maersk will implement a 4% Intermodal Fuel Fee but only for trucks which will be applied for the whole month of April and will then be reviewed on a monthly basis.

‘Unprecedented cost environment’

The war on Iran and the consequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked the passageway of 20% of the world’s fuel supply, causing prices to skyrocket. The situation is dire, and an end does seem to be in sight. Maersk defined it as an “unprecedented cost environment” that “continues to place significant pressure on logistics and intermodal transportation markets”.

The tests will measure operational safety when it comes to derailment coefficient and lateral acceleration, which will help the company to determine operating conditions. In theory, the new Divača-Koper line, which will provide an upgraded and modern rail connection to one of the most important ports on the Adriatic. The expected opening date of the new infrastructure, which will be a single track line, is 31 March.

Second track coming too

One and a half years ago, the Slovenian government decided it will build another track, mostly running parallel to the one that will open at the end of the month. The construction of the new line should start this year and end in 2030. This process is expected to be a little easier than building the first track, as many of the service tunnels already excavated will become part of the second track.

After that, the current 60-something year old railway leading to the port of Koper will be replaced by a double-track capable of handling 36 million tonnes of freight every year. Rail freight is already a big part of Koper’s logistics operations. After a small dip in 2024, the modal share went back over 50% last year.

The total shipping throughput reached 23,003,522 tonnes, which is similar to 2024. However, this is not reflected in the financial results. Net sales revenue reached 380.3 million euros. This is 13% more than was planned and 15% more than in 2024. The revenue growth is primarily attributable to increased container and car throughput and higher warehousing fees.

Similarly, EBIT grew by 44% and amounted to 96.3 million euros. The net operating results reached 81.5 million euros, which represents a 35% growth or 21.2 million euros more than in 2024 and 66% more than planned.

Containers and cars

“The company has repeatedly proven that we have a flexible port business model, with which we are able to manage fluctuations that arise due to changes in the economic environment”, the President of the Management Board Nevenka Kržan explained. “Last year’s business results are all the more exceptional when we consider that they were achieved in the midst of an extremely intensive investment period, which introduces a number of operational and process challenges into port work.”

Koper Port achieved significant growth across its terminals. The container terminal set a new record, handling 1,272,161 TEU, marking a substantial 12% increase. This surge was primarily fueled by new business supplying and equipping production facilities in its hinterland markets, alongside the restructuring of shipping services from the Far East and within the Mediterranean.

The car and Ro-Ro terminal also experienced growth, with throughput rising 3% to 914,817 units. This was mainly due to the import of vehicles from China by various manufacturers, complemented by increased car export volumes to Mediterranean countries.

The project was launched in April 2024 and it is now nearing its end. Once the tests are carried out, the last step entails the “evaluation of the impact of the digitisation of railway procedures at the border on the territory of the Programme Area”. The initiative is requiring a little over 1,1 million euros, with almost 900,000 coming from the European Regional Development Fund.

The most-affected area was the Glinščica valley, where a landslide above the Lokev Tunnel is still being cleaned up. “The terrain is extremely unstable and any additional rain could cause new inconveniences”, 2TDK said. In the same area, heavy rains also flooded the construction pit for the fan station, which is where the biggest efforts are currently focussed. Finally, access roads to the construction sites were also obstructed by landslides and a few culverts were clogged.

Tests in March…?

This low blow comes just days after 2TDK’s official announcement that tests along the new rail line would start in March 2026, with full operations expected for September. However, it remains to be seen whether last weekend’s extreme weather will further slow down construction and possibly delay the grand opening. “Repair work has been ongoing throughout the weekend and today, and the extent of damage after Friday’s heavy rains is still being determined in certain areas”, 2TDK said yesterday, Monday 1 September 2025.

The preparation of the project for an additional track between Divača and Slovenia’s main port in Koper will be divided into two phases. In the first one, the main goal is to obtain a building permit by running geological-geomechanical and hydrogeological surveys. The second phase will include activities during the execution works, such as design supervision and possible amendments to the Building Information Model.

Renewing the Divača–Koper axis

Initially, the Slovenian government opted to build only a new single-track between Divača and Koper to replace the existing 60-year-old infrastructure. For this section, various milestones were reached last month, as RailFreight.com reported. This new line will be ready in less than a year, as the opening is planned for 31 March 2026.

However, in October 2024, the Slovenian Parliament approved the construction of a second parallel line to improve rail connectivity even further. Construction of this line should start next year, with completion expected by 2030. This initiative should be a little easier, as many of the service tunnels excavated for construction work will become part of the new line.

Once both lines are operational, there will be capacity to move over 36 million tonnes by rail every year to and from the port of Koper. Rail at Slovenia’s largest port is already very present, with a 52% modal share in 2023, for a total of over 20,000 trains. Having a brand new infrastructure should boost rail freight operations even further and increase Koper’s competitiveness with the other Adriatic ports Trieste (Italy) and Rijeka (Croatia).

The completion of construction works along the Koper–Črni Kal section arrives just a couple of weeks after the launch of railway works inside the line’s longest tunnel, part of Section 1 between Črni Kal and Divača. Construction works in Section 2 are still being finalised due to delays caused by geological issues. The new Divača-Koper line should be ready by the end of March 2026.

Disruptions until 2027

Between total and partial closures, the Slovenian railway network will face disruptions up until 2027, as the letter from SŽ‑TP highlighted. Other than the construction along the Ljubljana–Koper line, traffic will be disrupted by upgrades of the stations in Ljubljana and Jesenice. Between 6 October 2025 and January 2026, “only two freight tracks will be operational for cargo and passenger traffic through Ljubljana station”, the company specified.

Works at the Jesenice station will start in September 2025 with closures during the weekends, which are often vital for rail freight service. Moreover, from March 2026 to January 2027, transport between Slovenia and Austria “will only be possible with multi-system or diesel locomotives, and manipulation of wagons at the station will not be possible.

The outlook from SŽ‑TP is not too optimistic. The operator claimed that there are other foreseen major projects and that “numerous unforeseen urgent maintenance works” are also expected. These closures are likely to have an impact on logistics companies relying on rail freight services in Slovenia. “It is necessary to count on a difficult planning of all shipments from/to the port of Koper”, Metrans pointed out in a press release.

Opportunities rise, but rail constraints remain

Yet the country’s ascent is not without complications. Despite the strong performance of Koper port, much of Slovenia’s inland rail infrastructure is still not capable of handling 740-metre freight trains – the European standard. These limitations pose risks to long-term growth and regional competitiveness, especially as neighbouring countries scale up their own logistics investments. Croatia is rapidly developing Rijeka, Serbia is pouring money into new rail links, and other Adriatic ports are making similar plays.

For Rohlig SUUS Logistics, the current momentum vindicates its earlier decision to expand operations in Slovenia. The company has had a presence in the country since 2019, with branches in Koper and Brnik near Ljubljana, offering a full suite of freight and intermodal services. SUUS sees Slovenia not only as a gateway but increasingly as a candidate for regional logistics hub status, particularly as demand rises from new factories and industries in nearby Hungary and across Central and Eastern Europe.

Koper’s position strengthens along EU corridors

A key part of that equation is rail. Slovenia sits astride two major pan-European transport corridors: the Mediterranean and the Baltic–Adriatic. Infrastructure investments linked to these corridors – particularly the ongoing expansion of rail access to Koper – are helping reframe Slovenia’s role from a passive transit route to an active logistics staging ground.

The message from Rohlig SUUS is clear: Slovenia must treat logistics as a national strategic priority, integrating transport policy with industrial, energy, and innovation strategies. Without that focus, the country risks being outpaced by its neighbours.

However, with the proper alignment of infrastructure, investment, and policy, Slovenia could emerge from this logistics realignment not only as a beneficiary but also as a central player.

Section 1 includes the route between Divača to Črni Kal. The biggest projects on this stretch are the Lokev and Beka tunnels, which are connected via the Glinščica Viaduct. The delays mentioned above were caused by works on this viaduct, which led to higher costs and a postponed deadline. Now, the companies involved will carry out construction and railway works simultaneously to try and make up for the time and resources lost.

The Divača–Koper line

Currently, Koper and Divača are connected by an almost 60 years old single-track line, which is the only rail line connecting to Slovenia’s largest port. The new Divača–Koper line is thus expected to become an important corridor both for Slovenia and the TEN-T network. Through eight tunnels and three viaducts, rail connectivity to and from the port of Koper shall massively improve once the line is ready. The opening of the new railway is planned for Spring 2026, two years after initially scheduled.

The initial plan was to build only one new track. However, a decision was made in February 2023 to create an additional line on the left side of the one currently under construction. Building this line should be a little easier, as many of the service tunnels used during this construction will become part of the newer line. Work should start next year and a full opening is planned for 2030.

In other words, after 2030, the port of Koper will go from having two brand new lines connecting it to Divača. On the other hand, traffic between Koper and Prešnica along the old line will be discontinued by then. Rail freight to and from the port of Koper has been suffering by the lack of resilient infrastructure and lack of capacity. For example, Metrans had to cancel 29 trains in April and various disruption significantly affected the situation in the Summer of 2024.