Riding the NEW Austria/Slovenia FLIRT from Villach to Ljubljana

With a quick change at Villach Hbf, I'm onto the new SŽ Class 510 Stadler FLIRT EMU for its international run from Austria to Ljubljana in Slovenia.
Let's try out these new trains and also enjoy a beautiful run along the Sava valley.
Departure: Villach, Austria
Destination: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Distance: 102 km / 63 miles
Duration: 2 hrs 5 mins
Average speed: 49 km/h 30 mph
Example cost, adult single:
1st class: €28,10 / £23.80
2nd Class: €9,90 / £8.40
I was travelling with an Interrail Global Pass. No reservation was required and there were no supplements to pay on this route.
Date of Travel: May 2024
Operator: Slovenske Železnice (SŽ)
Motive power: Class 510 4-car FLIRT EMU
Manufacturer: Stadler
Entered service: 2022 onwards
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@walterfillingham]

Everything just looks so clean, modern and well maintained, from the trains to the roads you passed. Really puts our country into perspective! Again beautiful scenery 😊

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@walterfillingham haha, that may be rose tinted tourist spectacles. I'm sure the locals have a lot to moan about 😉 Not sure if I would fancy using those narrow/low platforms every day! Best wishes to you, and thanks for coming along on another trip 👍

[@melvynbuckton6881]

My comment is what an interesting set of comments!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@melvynbuckton6881 haha... yes. Interesting viewers. Thanks for coming back for more 👍

[@stevecooksley]

I travelled from Villach to Kranj on the EC to get to the airport a few years ago - remember how scenic the route was, especially on the Austrian side. Very warm day and the air con was poor - hopefully the Flirts keep you a bit cooler.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@stevecooksley Yes. There was no problem with the air con. Just wish the interior wasn't spec'd as the "base model" 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for watching 👍

[@ampersand.]

Lovely relaxing jaunt as ever, thank you. Given the fares you showed it really doesn`t seem worth paying for first... Looking forward to the next episode - this really is our favourite channel at `& Towers` :)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@ampersand. Yes. The flirt reminded me of that Kings Lynn train where first wasn't really first. I am humbled to think anybody thinks I'm their favourite channel, given there are so many others on KZbin. Thank you ❤️

[@rachelehrenberg9231]

May I once again be pedantic? Ö B B. OOO BAY BAY. Like OOO LALA. An Ö is best thought of as OE That said I have totally enjoyed this series. Cheers, mate..

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@rachelehrenberg9231 ah. I thought the Ö made an Oh more into an Er. My mistake. Happy to take instruction on my myriad pronunciation errors. Thank you 👍 Thanks too for the kind words and for watching the video.

[@Timstravels01]

Lovely review, that 9 hour train to/from Croatia sounds right up my street! (Or railway)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Timstravels01 haha yes! I'll meet you on the platform at eight!

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Johnny

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@paulgibsonphotography cheers Paul 👍

[@spenny45108]

I think we would all like a 'Canoeing down the Sava river' series Johnny!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@spenny45108 oo err. I'll go get my paddles... 😁

[@melturn5654]

Thanks for taking us along on your trips round Europe. Fascinating to see countries like Slovenia

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@melturn5654 you are very welcome. Thanks for coming along 👍

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

Another interesting video!!! I feel like a new Interrail coming up!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@WINGSANDRAILS i currently have TWO tickets in my back pocket as they keep doing discounts... btw there is a 20% off sale running right now!

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels ow thanks gonna take a look

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels BOUGHT!!!

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

2 ;-)

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

and tickets for Glacier and bernina

[@Sim0nTrains]

Nice scenic video, wouldn't want to be on those narrow platforms when trains pass through at speed

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Sim0nTrains i have been on one when a freight rumbled past. It wasn't going quick, but boy did it feel too close!

[@liamburke1741]

Was looking forward to this video, and it didn't disappoint! Great journey in a nice train, in a beautiful but underrated country 🇸🇮👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@liamburke1741 thanks! I really appreciate that. I do love Slovenia. Would be very happy to return and discover more. Thanks for watching another 👍

[@Fan652w]

Another extremely good video Johnny. Throughout this video I was constantly going 'Wow!' out loud! My loudest WOW was when you showed OTOCE station. In this video you really showed your expertise in railway architecture. (Not so long ago Villach station was being rebuilt, so I am pretty sure that what you showed us is permanent!) The balance between 'trains' and 'travel' was just about right, except you did miss one important geographical point. Just before Godersdorf, the train you were on branched off from the Wien to Venezia (Vienna to Venice) main line. Villach is right where three major European cultures meet. The Germanic, the Slavic and the Latin.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Fan652w thanks for the kind words and the extra contextual info. You are right.. Otoče was a little gem!

[@horsehollerer]

Great stuff (and wonderful memories!), thank you! BTW, do you know about the car train that runs 3-4 times a day between Bohinjska Bistrica and Most na Soči in Triglav National Park? You show up, pay the conductor 14 euros, and drive onto the train, handbrake ON lol, stay in your car on an open flatbed wagon, while it takes you through the mountains for a chunk of the branch line you mentioned earlier. Anyway, back in April, I rented a car and planned a whole day of driving around Slovenia and catching one of these trains in the afternoon ... the day was fantastic, but the train just never showed up. Couldn't find any info on why. Anyway, it looks wonderful from the videos I've seen! 🤣 Looking forward to your vlog of stunning Ljubljana! Cheers.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@horsehollerer Yes, i was reading about the car train just the other day. Sorry to hear you missed riding it. I must return one day and rise the line! Best wishes to you 👍

[@horsehollerer]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Oh no worries at all, it gives me an excuse to go back soon ... plus driving around the Slovenian Alps was still pretty stunning! Cheers.

[@opagodaswirling9383]

A very enjoyable video which brought memories flooding back . I took the same route on my way to Belgrade in the late 70s. The iron curtain still had a sort of influence on old Yugoslavia back then . My inter rail card cost somewhere in the region of forty quid if I remember correctly . Are there advantages in purchasing the modern version ? PS I do feel rather remorseful regarding my comments on the brutal structure that is Cordoba station . I quite like it and didn't wish to sound offensive . Looking forward to the next leg of your journey.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@opagodaswirling9383 what lovely memories. One of my regrets is that i did not Interrail in my youth, so always pleased to hear the stories of others. Wrt to Cordoba, think nothing of it. Architecture, like music, art and many other things, could and should create reactions and discussion. Best wishes to you and thanks for watching 👍

[@maxart3392]

Slovenia is putting much effort in repelling people from taking trains and this is a perfect example. A Flirt with sub-standard interior used as an international train with a commuter train schedule (thousands of stops on the line which is already slow itself: 2 hrs for 100 km is ridiculous, travel times were probably the same in the times of K. und K., when the line was built), while it's priced as a regular international train with all amenities that one expects. 1st class is a 100% joke.

[@s125ish]

What happened to the loco hauled trains?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@maxart3392 i must agree that it is a shame that the interior is quite so spartan. I suppose wrt the schedule, it gets stuck in the schedules of other trains on this largely single track line. I must check how quickly that EC makes it up the line. Thanks for watching and for the comment 👍