2TDK: The second track project is returning to reliable rails with the amendment

2TDK announced that they accept the government’s decision to amend the investment program for the second track project with satisfaction. The amendment foresees the completion of construction works by the end of 2025, and the investment value of the project in current prices is estimated at 1.109 billion euros, which is 41 million euros less than the basic investment program from 2019, the company announced.

As explained in 2TDK, the amendment of the investment program was prepared both due to new circumstances in the project and due to the increase in the prices of construction materials, raw materials and energy products, which affect many aspects of the construction of the second track. With the aforementioned amendment, the capital of a foreign hinterland country is excluded from the financing of the project, and at the same time, a more successful absorption of non-reimbursable European funds is foreseen, they emphasized in the press release.

The management of 2TDK, consisting of the two general directors Matej Oset and director Marko Brezigarhas carried out a detailed review of the state of the project since the start of her mandate, carried out an in-depth analysis and found solutions and appropriate measures in dialogue with project partners, “to bring the second track project back to reliable rails”, the company announced.

Bratušek: Traffic will run on the second track in the first half of 2026

“Trains will run on this track in the first half of 2026 on the basis of a temporary use permit or decisions,” announced the infrastructure minister at Thursday’s press conference after the government meeting, at which the amended investment program was approved Alenka Bratušek. As she emphasized, the most important information is that the project will end at the end of 2025, and then there will be two quarters to correct any errors.

It is the second amendment of the investment program for the project, which was prepared in January 2019. It was approached due to the increase in the prices of construction materials, raw materials and energy products, the implementation schedule and because the capital of the hinterland is no longer among the sources.

The first amendment to the program was adopted in April 2021 and it was estimated that the project will be worth around 997 million euros. The investment value of the project in current prices has now decreased by 3.5 percent compared to the value from the investment program, and increased by 18 percent compared to the first amendment. Completion of construction works is planned for the end of 2025, which is the same as in the original and first amended program, the ministry summarized.

Change in the management of 2TDK

The previous management of the company 2TDK, which oversees the project of the second track Divača-Koper, s Pavlet Hevko at the head initially predicted that work on the project would end in the middle of 2026, or at the end of March 2026. This date was supposed to also be foreseen in the first draft of the amended investment program, but the government did not confirm it, as it expected to shorten the implementation deadline back to the end in 2025 as set in 2021.

Then in March, the government did not grant a discharge to the management and supervisors of 2TDK, as it first wanted to clarify the circumstances related to the departure from the timeline and investment value of the project. This was followed by the dismissal of Hevka, and the supervisors put Matej Oset at the head of 2TDK.

The government also increased the share capital of 2TDK. According to the law on the second track, until the start of its operation, the state must invest in the company’s share capital every year funds from the surcharge on the toll paid into the budget. Last year, they collected 13.15 million euros, so the company’s share capital will increase by this amount, to 342.15 million euros.