The new network will link three of Europe’s most popular tourist countries in just two hours, making it the perfect route for a long weekend.
The route, run by Slovenia Railways, follows an originally five-hour route that closed down over 30 years ago. It was built more than 150 years ago under the Austro-Hungarian empire, which encompassed much of central Europe.
It travels through eight towns and cities in three countries in just two hours.
It has been revived just for the summer months, from April until the end of September, but it is hoped that it can be made a permanent route in the future.
Tickets start from just £7 each way for adults, with children between the ages of six and 12 costing just £3.50 and those below six can travel for free.
People planning to hop on and off this service to visit various areas crossed by the line can also get individual tickets for each leg of the journey.The cheapest route within this service covers the short distance of 6.8 miles between Ilirska Bistrica and Šapjane, and costs only £1. WiFi is also available on board, at an additional cost of £4.30.
Running in both directions, the train departs from the north-eastern Italian port of Trieste, known for its Habsburg history and so is home to a range of attractions including Roman ruins, parks, traditional cafes and unique food.
The line then passes through Slovenia where it calls at Sežana, Divača, Pivka and Ilirska Bistrica, the latter of which has been famed as Slovenia’s “most bike-mad town”. E-bikes can be hired by visitors to explore the city’s forested tracks, converted from the 60 miles of tarmacked road built during the Italian occupation.
The final country on the network is Croatia, where it stops at Šapjane, Opatija Matulji and Rijeka. The Opatija Matulji is said to be incredibly welcoming, covered in bougainvillaea with its own rose garden and vegetable plot.
Without stopping, the journey takes just over two hours. You can board a train at Trieste at 7.50am, and be in Croatia at the final stop by 9.54am. Alternatively, a train can be boarded at 6.25pm and arrive at 8.40pm, leaving ample time to enjoy the city in the evening.
“The aim of the project is to improve the connectivity of the two regions and to test the feasibility of using public transport for tourism purposes on this route,” Slovenia Railways said.