The background
Not all roads lead to Rome. Many of them lead to Pragersko, a small town in north-eastern Slovenia.
Pragersko was built thanks to the construction of a railway network in the mid-19th century. The cross rail was an outstanding feat of engineering for the Imperial Austrian Südbahn line. It linked Vienna to Trieste and joined the main line through Zagreb to Budapest. Pragersko became an extremely important junction for international train routes and passengers took advantage of their stop to send postcards portraying the station to their beloved.
The challenge
Several international routes pass through Pragersko towards countries such as Austria, Croatia and Hungary. Pragersko is also a busy terminal for national traffic since it is key to Koper’s hinterland. In 2015, 3.6 million passengers passed through the station on their way towards the Slovenian cities of Ljubljana, Maribor and Murska Sobota (and onwards to Hungary). With regard to freight traffic, the numbers are impressive: only in 2015, 126 freight trains per day passed through Pragersko.
Due to the high figures of travellers and freight and its excellent location, Pragersko was a bottleneck for railway traffic. In addition to capacity constraints, significant speed reductions were also the result of outdated rail infrastructure.
A strategic plan was urgently needed in order to optimise train traffic in the most efficient way and turn Pragersko into a smooth rail hub.
@Silvia Fraguas/JASPERS
The action
JASPERS helped the Slovenian Ministry of Transport bring back the charm that this historical railway station used to have.
JASPERS planned the layout of Pragersko station like a chessboard. First, we strategically reviewed each piece of the chess set: trains, travellers, times and tracks. Where are travellers going? Where are they coming from? How long do they stay in the station? Do freight trains need to stop in the station? How long are the coach trains? Which tracks will trains use and when?
Working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Transport and its consultants, JASPERS studied all aspects, reviewed solutions and alternatives, and assisted to work out the most efficient layout for the station. JASPERS also looked into the future, if new train operations are launched in Pragersko and surroundings, the station’s layout is ready to adapt and expand.
The results
Pragersko’s new layout will make the most of its resources and manage to checkmate all the past flaws. The strategic design of the layout will enable the Slovenian authorities to achieve more results with fewer resources: from an original estimated budget of EUR 105 million to about EUR 88,9 million.
Track usage will be efficient, transfer times will be estimated down to the last detail, and people and freight will be travelling in the most efficient way. Rail users will recognise trains as an efficient and friendly means of transport. Travellers will enjoy a more comfortable travel experience. The station will be appealing to travellers and free of obstacles, which will enable access to persons with reduced mobility. Travellers will be able to leave their cars in Park & Ride spaces. The platforms will have new roofs, switch heating facilities and noise protection. The safety will be improved due to the revised level crossings.
Finally, Pragersko will again become a key station for an efficient cross-border freight traffic. Freight transportation will benefit from fewer delays, wagons will have adequate facilities at their disposal to park and stop, and better coordination of timetables and tracks will facilitate smooth arrival, pass-through and departure.
