REGULAR passenger trains from Udine and Trieste to Ljubljana were revived after a decade-long break on September 9, when the new services were officially launched by Mrs Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for transport, Slovenian infrastructure minister, Mr Peter Gaspersic, regional transport and infrastructure deputy for Friuli Venezia Giulia, Mr Graziano Pizzimenti, and Italian undersecretary for infrastructure and transport, Mr Armando Siri.

From Ljubljana, the first train departs at 05.57, arriving at Trieste 08.39 and Udine at 09.52. The second departs at 16.10 and arrives at Trieste Central at 18.43.

From Italy, the first train leaves Trieste Central at 09.01, arriving at Ljubljana at 11.36. The second departs from Udine at 17.54, arriving in Ljubljana at 21.48.

In Italy, trains make intermediate stops at Palmanova, Cervignano-Aquileia-Grado, Trieste Airport, Monfalcone, Trieste Central and Villa Opicina. In Slovenia, trains serve Sezana, Divaca, Pivca, Postojna, Rakek, Logatec, Borovnica and Ljubljana.

Services are operated by pairs of CAF ETR 563 EMUs owned by the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and equipped for operation in Slovenia. Each train accommodates 272 passengers and 30 bicycles.

The initiative is part of the CrossMoby strategic project, under the Interreg Italy-Slovenia cross-border cooperation programme, and is the result of cooperation between Trenitalia, Slovenian Railways (SZ) and the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

At the time of writing Trenitalia had still not added the service to its online booking portal, although tickets can be booked via the Slovenian Railways (SZ) website.