Villach to Ljubljana on the new FLIRT service

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!

[@christinehodge3608]

Good video, nice views, thank you for sharing,

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks! And thanks for watching another!

[@derekbryce2632]

Did this route last week to on a Vienna - Villach - Ljubljana ticket. Wonderful scenery the whole way. What a revelation Ljubljana's old town was: almost too pretty to be true.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@derekbryce2632 yes it it a great route and i agree Ljubljana is wonderful... i made a video about it! Wonderful Ljubljana, Slovenia kzbin.info/www/bejne/iomuhWimmauKrLM

[@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 👍

[@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 👍

[@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... 😁

[@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 👍

[@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!

[@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 ❤️

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Johnny

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@paulgibsonphotography cheers Paul 👍

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@lukajakos9680]

I would rather take a train than a car anytime of the year becuase it is cheaper and depsite the slow speed you can just enjoy the outside also dont wory there is a huge project going on renowating the line from ljubljana to kranj the line will be double tracked and capable of speeds up to 160 kmh per hour so i think it will actualy reduce the travel time by quite some time anway a little a info from me i will always aprove of project like this also another problem is the higway it was build in the 90s i think and it is much more straight than the railway so that is the biggest problem at the moment i hope that they will manage to fix the problems with the trains in the future becuase that is the way forward anway an excelent video.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@lukajakos9680 thanks for the extra information. I'm pleased to hear that the line is being improved . Thanks too for watching 👍

[@melvynbuckton6881]

My comment is what an interesting set of comments!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

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

[@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 👍

[@GrantMcWilliams]

So the new trains are slower and less comfortable than the old trains. Interesting. I've taken this trip several times with the D train and it takes about 1 hr 40 minutes.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@GrantMcWilliams that's sad to hear. Hopefully the line speeds can be increased in the future. I suspect the issue is the number of stops it now makes? Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@GrantMcWilliams]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Maybe so. I was really hoping for a faster type of train on that route from Salzburg to Ljubljana.

[@anzebeton1869]

Why didn't you show the road crossing in Žirovnica, it was possible I was waiting with my car there

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@anzebeton1869 haha! If only I'd known! You could have got out and waved 😁 Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@aaravvarma1143]

Did u need to show your passport?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@aaravvarma1143 not on this particular train as the service is in Schengen region. However, they reserve the right to check documentation at any time. Thanks for watching 👍

[@aaravvarma1143]

@@JohnnyHooverTravelsadditionally one last thing while booking I accidentally forgot to include my middle name and only put my first and last name would this be an issue while/if they check my documentation?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@aaravvarma1143 you'll have to ask the railway company

[@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 👍