SLOVENSKE ZELEZNICE INFRASTRUKTURADRUZBA ZA UPRAVLJANJE IN VZDRZEVANJE ZELEZNISKE INFRASTRUKTURE TER VODENJE ZELEZNISKEGA PROMETA DOO

Their core work

SŽ Infrastruktura (SZ IN) is Slovenia's national railway infrastructure manager, responsible for maintaining and operating the country's rail network — tracks, bridges, tunnels, signalling systems, and traffic management. In H2020 projects, they contribute real-world railway infrastructure as a testing ground and provide operational expertise on asset management, maintenance planning, and infrastructure resilience. Their later involvement in Shift2Rail projects shows them actively participating in the digital transformation of European rail signalling and train automation systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), SZ IN focused on traditional railway infrastructure challenges: decision support tools for maintenance, asset integrity management, and tailoring infrastructure to network needs. From 2018 onward, their involvement shifted sharply toward Shift2Rail's digital rail agenda — advanced signalling, automatic train operation, moving block, cybersecurity, and demonstrator/prototype development. This trajectory shows a clear move from passive infrastructure management toward active participation in the digital and automated future of European railways.

SZ IN is transitioning from traditional infrastructure maintenance toward testing and demonstrating next-generation digital rail technologies, making them a relevant partner for ERTMS, automation, and cybersecurity projects.

How they like to work

SZ IN never coordinates projects — they participate as a partner or third party, which is typical for a national infrastructure operator providing real-world test environments rather than leading research. Their 125 unique partners across 19 countries indicate they are embedded in the major European rail research consortia, particularly the Shift2Rail ecosystem. They function as an end-user and validation partner, offering operational railway infrastructure for testing and demonstration.

With 125 consortium partners across 19 countries, SZ IN is well-connected within European rail research networks. Their participation in Shift2Rail projects (X2Rail series, IN2TRACK2) places them alongside the major European rail infrastructure managers and technology suppliers.

What sets them apart

As Slovenia's national railway infrastructure manager, SZ IN offers something most research organizations cannot: access to a live, operational rail network for testing and validation. Their progression from asset management research into Shift2Rail's advanced signalling and automation programmes means they bring both traditional operational know-how and exposure to next-generation digital rail systems. For consortium builders, they are a credible end-user partner from a smaller EU member state, which strengthens geographic diversity.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NeTIRail-INFRA
  Largest EC contribution (EUR 593,375) — focused on adapting railway infrastructure to real network needs, reflecting SZ IN's core mandate.
• X2Rail-4
  Part of the flagship Shift2Rail programme covering automatic train operation, smart controllers, and traffic management evolution — signals SZ IN's move into digital rail.
• IN2TRACK2
  Shift2Rail track and crossing research with radical innovation ambitions for bridges and tunnels — directly tied to SZ IN's physical infrastructure responsibilities.