Slovenia to establish railway management company modeled after DARS

Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Jernej Vrtovec has announced plans to establish a new state-owned company for railway infrastructure, intended to function similarly to DARS, the manager of motorways and expressways. The proposal aims to centralize maintenance, planning, projects, and construction under a single entity to improve efficiency.

Speaking at a transport congress in Portorož, Vrtovec highlighted the need for legislative changes to secure diverse funding sources beyond the public budget and to accelerate the placement of infrastructure projects. The proposed law seeks to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and bypass blockades from civil initiatives that have delayed major works.

The initiative specifically targets the development of the high-speed rail link between Maribor and Ljubljana, a project that has faced delays due to spatial planning issues. Vrtovec is coordinating with the Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning to ensure that the acceleration of strategic projects occurs alongside environmental protection.