Nova Gorica railway station
Encyclopedia
Nova Gorica railway station serves the town
and municipality
of Nova Gorica
, in the Slovenian Littoral
region of Slovenia
, and is also accessible from the town of Gorizia
, Italy
.
The station forms part of the Bohinj Railway
, between Jesenice, Slovenia, and Trieste
, Italy. Due to its geographical position, it has undergone several changes of nationality and name.
From its opening in 1906 until 1919, the station was located within the Austrian Empire
, and was named Görz Staatsbahnhof (Gorizia station of the State Railways). In 1919, as part of border changes following World War I
, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy
, and renamed Stazione di Gorizia Nord. In 1923, the station was renamed again, this time as Stazione di Gorizia Montesanto.
In 1947, control of the station passed to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
, with the station being located within the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
, and renamed Železniška postaja Nova Gorica. Slovenia became independent in 1991, but on that occasion the station was not renamed. The station is currently owned and operated by Slovenske železnice
(SZ).
, which, since 1947, has formed part of the border between Nova Gorica and Gorizia.
.
The Transalpine Railway network was built at the beginning of the twentieth century by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to improve the links between its interior and the Port of Trieste
, by connecting the city of České Budějovice
, in the present day Czech Republic
, with the city of Trieste, then also in the Austrian Empire. The management of the network and its rolling stock
was initially entrusted to the Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways.
The station was originally named Görz Staatsbahnhof (Gorizia station of the State Railways), to distinguish it from Gorizia's main station, Görz Südbahnhof
(Gorizia South station), which formed part of the Udine-Trieste railway and was managed by the Austrian Southern Railway
, a private company. The two stations were joined by a connecting line that partially used the existing railway line between Gorizia and Ajdovščina
.
During World War I
, given its proximity to the war front, the station's passenger building was severely damaged.
to the Kingdom of Italy, control of the Bohinj Railway between Podbrdo
and Trieste became the responsibility of the Ferrovie dello Stato
(FS). Under the management of the FS, the main task was the rebuilding of the passenger building according to the original plans. Additionally, the station's name was changed twice, initially to Stazione di Gorizia Nord (Gorizia North), and in 1923 to Stazione di Gorizia Montesanto (Gorizia Holy Mountain).
With the entry of Italy into World War II
in 1940 and especially during the invasion of Yugoslavia
in 1941, the station played an important role in the transport of men and resources directed to the front or back from it. In 1943, the railway premises were occupied by the Germans.
. It was a strategic point in the transport of Jews and partisans to concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Mauthausen
, Theresienstadt
and Risiera di San Sabba
. The partisans were captured Slavs usually sent to the Island of Rab
or Risiera di San Sabba.
, the eastern territories of the province of Gorizia
went to Yugoslavia, as did the eastern districts of Gorizia and the railway line between the Bohinj Railway at Podrbrdo and Villa Opicina
.
The management of the station then passed to the Yugoslav Railways, under its Ljubljana
division. The square in front of the passenger building was divided between the two states by the so-called Wall of Gorizia. On the pediment
of the passenger building, which faced directly towards Italy, was placed a red star, symbol of socialism.
Yugoslav Railways renamed the station Železniška postaja Nova Gorica to indicate that a new municipality would be built in the eastern districts of Gorizia, and also rebuilt the line between Gorizia and Montesanto Prvačina. The station's connection with Udine and Trieste was cut at the border near the Gorizia San Marco railway station (Slovene: Železniška postaja Vrtojba
), which was placed between the two railway administrations and was located in Yugoslav territory.
In 1960, the connection with the Gorizia Centrale railway station
was reopened, and a passenger service began operations using FS rolling stock.
(SZ). In December of that year, the red star symbol of socialism on the station pediment was modified to represent a star of Christmas. Soon afterwards, it was removed. The Piazza della Transalpina was divided between Italy and the new state of Slovenia.
In 2004, with the entry of Slovenia into the European Union
all signs of the border at the square were removed, and the Wall of Gorizia that had divided it into two was demolished. In 2007, upon Slovenia's entry into the Schengen area
, the last formal customs controls were eliminated and the square reunited.
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at November 2010.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and municipality
Municipalities of Slovenia
Slovenia is divided into 211 municipalities , of which 11 have urban status.Slovene is an official language of all the municipalities. Hungarian is a second official language of 3 municipalities in Prekmurje: Dobrovnik , Hodoš and Lendava...
of Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
, in the Slovenian Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
region of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, and is also accessible from the town of Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The station forms part of the Bohinj Railway
Bohinj railway
The Bohinj Railway or Transalpina is a railway in Slovenia extending into Italy. It connects Jesenice in Slovenia with the towns of Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy through the Julian Alps. It was built by Austria-Hungary in 1904 as a strategic railway to the port of Trieste...
, between Jesenice, Slovenia, and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, Italy. Due to its geographical position, it has undergone several changes of nationality and name.
From its opening in 1906 until 1919, the station was located within the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, and was named Görz Staatsbahnhof (Gorizia station of the State Railways). In 1919, as part of border changes following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
, and renamed Stazione di Gorizia Nord. In 1923, the station was renamed again, this time as Stazione di Gorizia Montesanto.
In 1947, control of the station passed to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, with the station being located within the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1943 until 1990...
, and renamed Železniška postaja Nova Gorica. Slovenia became independent in 1991, but on that occasion the station was not renamed. The station is currently owned and operated by Slovenske železnice
Slovenske železnice
Slovenian Railways is the state railway company of Slovenia, created in 1991 from the Ljubljana division of the former Yugoslav Railways after the breakup of Yugoslavia.Slovenia is a member of the International Union of Railways...
(SZ).
Location
The main station building faces the Piazza della TransalpinaPiazza della Transalpina
Piazza della Transalpina or Evropski trg , is a square divided between the towns of Gorizia, Italy and Nova Gorica, Slovenia....
, which, since 1947, has formed part of the border between Nova Gorica and Gorizia.
Austrian period
The station was opened on , upon the inauguration of the Jesenice–Trieste (or Bohinj Railway) section of the network of railway lines known as the Transalpine Railway . At that time, the station served Gorizia , which was then within the Austrian EmpireAustrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
.
The Transalpine Railway network was built at the beginning of the twentieth century by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to improve the links between its interior and the Port of Trieste
Port of Trieste
The Free Port of Trieste, is an Italian port on North Adriatic Sea in Trieste, Italy.It is subdivided into 5 different Free Areas, 3 of which have been allotted to commercial activities:*the Old Free Area...
, by connecting the city of České Budějovice
Ceské Budejovice
České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
, in the present day Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, with the city of Trieste, then also in the Austrian Empire. The management of the network and its rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
was initially entrusted to the Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways.
The station was originally named Görz Staatsbahnhof (Gorizia station of the State Railways), to distinguish it from Gorizia's main station, Görz Südbahnhof
Gorizia Centrale railway station
Gorizia Centrale railway station ) is the main station serving the town and comune of Gorizia, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northeastern Italy....
(Gorizia South station), which formed part of the Udine-Trieste railway and was managed by the Austrian Southern Railway
Austrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway was an Austrian railway company established in 1841...
, a private company. The two stations were joined by a connecting line that partially used the existing railway line between Gorizia and Ajdovščina
Ajdovšcina
Ajdovščina is a small town and a municipality with the same name and a population of 7000 , located in the Vipava Valley , Slovenia....
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, given its proximity to the war front, the station's passenger building was severely damaged.
Italian period
In 1918, upon the reallocation of the territories of the Julian MarchJulian March
The Julian March is a former political region of southeastern Europe on what are now the borders between Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy...
to the Kingdom of Italy, control of the Bohinj Railway between Podbrdo
Podbrdo railway station
Podbrdo railway station serves the settlement of Podbrdo, in the municipality of Tolmin, Slovenia.-Location:The station forms part of the Bohinj Railway between Jesenice, Slovenia, and Trieste, Italy...
and Trieste became the responsibility of the Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
(FS). Under the management of the FS, the main task was the rebuilding of the passenger building according to the original plans. Additionally, the station's name was changed twice, initially to Stazione di Gorizia Nord (Gorizia North), and in 1923 to Stazione di Gorizia Montesanto (Gorizia Holy Mountain).
With the entry of Italy into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1940 and especially during the invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
in 1941, the station played an important role in the transport of men and resources directed to the front or back from it. In 1943, the railway premises were occupied by the Germans.
German period
From 1943 to 1945 the station was operated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn-GesellschaftDeutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft
The Deutsche Reichsbahn – was the name of the German national railway created from the railways of the individual states of the German Empire following the end of World War I....
. It was a strategic point in the transport of Jews and partisans to concentration camps, including Auschwitz, Mauthausen
Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen Concentration Camp grew to become a large group of Nazi concentration camps that was built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly east of the city of Linz.Initially a single camp at Mauthausen, it expanded over time and by the summer of 1940, the...
, Theresienstadt
Theresienstadt concentration camp
Theresienstadt concentration camp was a Nazi German ghetto during World War II. It was established by the Gestapo in the fortress and garrison city of Terezín , located in what is now the Czech Republic.-History:The fortress of Terezín was constructed between the years 1780 and 1790 by the orders...
and Risiera di San Sabba
Risiera di San Sabba
Risiera di San Sabba was a Nazi concentration camp for the detention and killing of political prisoners during World War II, located in Trieste, northern Italy. SS members Odilo Globocnik and Karl Frenzel, and Ivan Marchenko are all said to have participated in the killings at this camp. Erwin...
. The partisans were captured Slavs usually sent to the Island of Rab
Rab concentration camp
The Rab concentration camp was an Italian concentration and internment camp on the Adriatic island of Rab, now part of the Republic of Croatia, during World War II. The camp was located at...
or Risiera di San Sabba.
Yugoslavian period
Under the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947Paris Peace Treaties, 1947
The Paris Peace Conference resulted in the Paris Peace Treaties signed on February 10, 1947. The victorious wartime Allied powers negotiated the details of treaties with Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland .The...
, the eastern territories of the province of Gorizia
Province of Gorizia
The Province of Gorizia is a province in the autonomous Friuli–Venezia Giulia region of Italy.-Overview:Its capital is the city of Gorizia. It belonged to the Province of Udine between 1924 and 1927 and the communes of Sonzia, Plezzo, Bergogna, Caporetto, Tolmino, Circhina, Santa Lucia d'Isonzo,...
went to Yugoslavia, as did the eastern districts of Gorizia and the railway line between the Bohinj Railway at Podrbrdo and Villa Opicina
Villa Opicina
Villa Opicina is a village in north-eastern Italy, close to the Slovenian border at Fernetti . The first town in Slovenia after the border is Sežana, which is also where the first railway station in Slovenia is located after Villa Opicina....
.
The management of the station then passed to the Yugoslav Railways, under its Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
division. The square in front of the passenger building was divided between the two states by the so-called Wall of Gorizia. On the pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
of the passenger building, which faced directly towards Italy, was placed a red star, symbol of socialism.
Yugoslav Railways renamed the station Železniška postaja Nova Gorica to indicate that a new municipality would be built in the eastern districts of Gorizia, and also rebuilt the line between Gorizia and Montesanto Prvačina. The station's connection with Udine and Trieste was cut at the border near the Gorizia San Marco railway station (Slovene: Železniška postaja Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba is a municipality in Slovenia. The municipality comprises the town of Šempeter pri Gorici and the adjacent village of Vrtojba....
), which was placed between the two railway administrations and was located in Yugoslav territory.
In 1960, the connection with the Gorizia Centrale railway station
Gorizia Centrale railway station
Gorizia Centrale railway station ) is the main station serving the town and comune of Gorizia, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northeastern Italy....
was reopened, and a passenger service began operations using FS rolling stock.
Slovenian period
Upon the commencement of Slovenian independence in 1991, the station and railway line passed to the Slovenske železniceSlovenske železnice
Slovenian Railways is the state railway company of Slovenia, created in 1991 from the Ljubljana division of the former Yugoslav Railways after the breakup of Yugoslavia.Slovenia is a member of the International Union of Railways...
(SZ). In December of that year, the red star symbol of socialism on the station pediment was modified to represent a star of Christmas. Soon afterwards, it was removed. The Piazza della Transalpina was divided between Italy and the new state of Slovenia.
In 2004, with the entry of Slovenia into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
all signs of the border at the square were removed, and the Wall of Gorizia that had divided it into two was demolished. In 2007, upon Slovenia's entry into the Schengen area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
, the last formal customs controls were eliminated and the square reunited.
Facilities and equipment
In addition to the passenger building, the station is equipped with a locomotive shed and a turntable.External links
This article is based upon a translation of the Italian language version as at November 2010.