Another Slovenian madness: the Swiss opened a factory of the future in Lendava, and the Slovenian train still runs there through Croatia

Slovenia's infrastructure shortcomings have once again come under scrutiny after a Swiss pharmaceutical company opened a high-tech factory in Lendava, a town accessible only via Croatia due to missing rail connections. The new facility, operated by Lek under the umbrella of Sandoz, marks a major economic investment for the region. However, the lack of modern rail links forces reliance on trucks, which contribute to traffic congestion and environmental concerns. Meanwhile, Slovenia’s railways continue to struggle with outdated infrastructure and inefficiencies. The situation highlights a long-standing issue in the Prekmurje region, where the absence of a direct rail link from Beltinci to Lendava has been known since at least 2000. Despite repeated promises and planning, the necessary track has yet to be built. This delay has left local businesses and workers dependent on road networks, increasing both costs and environmental impact. The current rail system requires trains heading to Lendava to detour through Croatian territory, effectively paying Croatia for access to its own land. The problems extend beyond Lendava. Across the country, train speeds have significantly declined despite substantial investments. For example, the Pragersko-Hodoš railway was renovated with nearly half a billion euros to allow speeds of up to 160 km/h. However, damaged concrete sleepers on over 50 kilometers of track have forced trains to reduce their speed to 80 or even 60 km/h. Similar issues plague other routes, such as the one connecting Koper to Austria, where trains often travel at reduced speeds due to infrastructure deficiencies. Travel times have worsened compared to two decades ago. According to financial reports, the journey from Ljubljana to Koper now takes around two hours and thirty minutes on average, whereas it took just two hours and eight minutes twenty years ago. Similarly, the trip from Maribor to Koper has increased from four hours to almost five. These delays are attributed to aging infrastructure, maintenance work, and planned slow zones that are part of the existing schedule. Passengers face additional challenges with frequent delays and limited service options. On the Ljubljana-Koper route, the average delay per 100 kilometers rose from 2.2 minutes in 2019 to 6.7 minutes in 2024. Unofficial tracking sites show that some trains experience delays exceeding 50 minutes compared to scheduled times. For instance, the RG 509 train from Ljubljana to Koper averaged a 16-minute delay over its last 30 trips, while the IC 518 train from Ljubljana to Maribor had an average delay of 13 minutes. These inefficiencies underscore the urgent need for comprehensive upgrades to Slovenia's rail network. While the government continues to emphasize sustainable mobility and green transitions, the reality on the ground suggests that these goals remain unmet without substantial improvements to the rail infrastructure. Local officials and residents are increasingly calling for action, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues before further investments are made.