Slovenske železnice (Slovenian Railways SZ) finished 2014 above plans in terms of profit, while both profit and revenue increased compared to 2013, general manager Dušan Mes has told an interview with the STA.

SZ's operating profit reached approximately  EUR 30 million, according to preliminary results, while the target was EUR 22 million. Even when severance pay is deducted from the figure, profit will still amount to EUR 23 million or EUR 24m, Mes says.

While the amount of cargo transported has been growing in recent years - climbing from 16.5 million tonnes in 2012 to 18.7 million tonnes last year - Mes expects this year's figure to be level with last year's. The cargo section would need some EUR 150-200 million in the next few years to keep up with the needs of the buyers on the entire corridor, according to him.

In passenger transport, Mes would like to see an agreement reached with the state by the end of April regarding public service obligation. At the moment, Slovenske železnice receives EUR 42m from this address annually, which is significantly less than in the past, Mes says. "These funds never covered the loans hired for the passenger section, which now stand at EUR 113m."

The railway from Koper to Ljubljana is the only railway link between the capital and port operator Luka Koper, which transports 60% of all cargo via railway. The need for the construction of a second track between Koper and the Divača rail hub is becoming ever more evident. The possibilities for realisation of the EUR 1.4bn project are being discussed this month by a special task force.

Source: http://www.sta.si/