Istria, Kvarner, Ljubljana, Villach and Vienna: this is how the Region relaunches cross-border tourist connections
From the return of the maritime route to Rovinj and Mali Lošinj to the Parenzana bicibus to the trains to Ljubljana and Vienna: almost six million invested in the system
TRIESTE Bringing Friuli Venezia Giulia closer to its natural hinterland, and at the same time focusing on sustainable mobility to promote the development of the territory also in terms of tourism. These are the reasons that have pushed the Region to with 5.8 million euros the rail and sea connections to and from Austria, Slovenia, but also Istria and Kvarner. Sections carried out under the aegis of the EU and in some cases already started in the past but interrupted several times due to the pandemic.
It starts with the return, after two years of suspension, of the maritime connection from Trieste to Piran, Parenzo, Rovigno and Lussinpiccolo, managed by the Sicilian Liberty Lines. The service, already active in previous years, will start on May 28 and will last until September 25, every day (except Tuesday) with departure from the fourth pier. On board you can bring two bags per person, as well as small pets and a maximum of 20 bicycles. The rates also include a family package: two adults and a child up to 26 years for example will pay 54.40 euros for Rovinj round trip.
The rail link between Udine, Trieste and Ljubljana has also been active since 2018, but has also been interrupted several times. Two daily trains are scheduled – in collaboration between the Region and Slovenia – one departing from Udine and passing through Trieste and one departing directly from the regional capital (8 euros for the Trieste-Ljubljana ticket). There are 30 bikes that can be brought along.
A final experiment launched in 2021 is the bicibus service from Trieste with arrival in Poreč, following the ancient railway line – now the cycle path – of the Parenzana. A totally free service made available to the Region as part of the European Mimosa project, which sees Italy and Croatia as partners. From the weekend (30 April) the bus, made available by the Monte di Tolmezzo company, will make the next journey from Trieste to Poreč and, with two intermediate stops, one in Rabuiese and the other back in Plovanìa. Two periods of activity: from 23 April to 10 July and from 20 August to 31 October. You can bring your own bike and walk the stretches of the old Parenzana.
The Micotra, the train organized by Fuc (Ferrovie Udine Cividale) in collaboration with the Austrian Öbb railways, which connects Udine to Villach twice a day and vice versa, is confirmed. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the connection is extended to Trieste. With 140 seats and the possibility of carrying the bike in tow, the train has seen a steady increase in popularity, marking a significant increase to over 100,000 passengers in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.
Also confirmed the connection between Trieste, Ljubljana, Maribor, Graz with final arrival in Vienna, on the route of the ancient Southern railway imperialregia that connected Vienna to its city-port. The Trieste-Ljubljana route lasts three hours, which for Vienna almost 9. In the first six months of service (from June to December 2021), cross-border passengers transportedi were 6,233.
“To this mixed communication strategy, bike train and ship – explained the regional councilor for infrastructures and territory Graziano Pizzimenti yesterday the point on the entire public transport offer – the Region strongly believes and in fact has allocated substantial financial resources, aiming to facilitate the connection between neighboring countries and increase inbound tourism. All this by reducing the polluting impact on the territory, with assorted and interconnected travel options that favor the bicycle as an ecological and healthy means of transport increasingly appreciated by a large audience of European tourists “.
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