Trackside photography of the Portuguese and European railway
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TRAINOGRAPHY by João Cunha
Droning around the Koper ramp
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Droning around the Koper ramp

12 Sep 2026 · 19 Sep 2026 · 13 photographs

The original Koper ramp, built in the 1960s, is set to lose most of its relevance with the opening of the new line in 2027. Time to capture the uniqueness of this wonderful line from the sky.

From Bezovica to Zanigrad

From Rizana to Presnica, the Koper ramp has many wonderful places to explore. A couple of aerial shots of trains circulating between Bezovica and Zanigrad, the later a very well known spot to photograph and film.

In the lower section, Railpool 193.102 hauls a SZ train to Koper, while in the upper section a Taurus pushes a containers train until Rodik 1
In the lower section, Railpool 193.102 hauls a SZ train to Koper, while in the upper section a Taurus pushes a containers train until Rodik
A large Adria Tranpost container train to Austria is seen at Zanigrad with 1216.922 pushing in the back 2
A large Adria Tranpost container train to Austria is seen at Zanigrad with 1216.922 pushing in the back
363.021 is seen approaching Zanigrad in a spectacular manner, with 541.106 pushin in the rear 3
363.021 is seen approaching Zanigrad in a spectacular manner, with 541.106 pushin in the rear
The Hrastovlje tunnel is the largest in the original Koper line and that's where we see Brizita 036 with an empty train to Koper entering the Hrastovlje station 4
The Hrastovlje tunnel is the largest in the original Koper line and that's where we see Brizita 036 with an empty train to Koper entering the Hrastovlje station

Podpec on its own

Podpec is a very small village almost at the top of the mountain and hosts some of the most enjoyable views of the line

363.003 uses all its dynamic braking power in its descent around Podpec 5
363.003 uses all its dynamic braking power in its descent around Podpec
363.035 passes the Podpec bridge with an empty coal train to Koper 6
363.035 passes the Podpec bridge with an empty coal train to Koper

Črnotiče is the world-famous village that hosts two of the main spots in Europe. We can see Koper, Trieste and the Adriatic see while seeing trains passing by. Undoubtely, Koper ramp's purest essence

Črnotiče

With the magnificent Trieste as a background, top 'n tail 363.033 + 363.015 lead a heavy container train out of Koper, passing the station of Crnotice 7
With the magnificent Trieste as a background, top 'n tail 363.033 + 363.015 lead a heavy container train out of Koper, passing the station of Crnotice
We see all the line between Crnotice, where 363.031 is passing, and the Presnica junction in the background with its recognizable antennas. Pure Koper ramp experience! 8
We see all the line between Crnotice, where 363.031 is passing, and the Presnica junction in the background with its recognizable antennas. Pure Koper ramp experience!

Presnica

Another hotspot is Presnica, where the line splits from the one going to Pula (Croatia) and where a drone magnifies significantly the experience

Brizita 363.007 just passed Presnica junction, entering another 25/1000 gradient towards Koper with this empty train from the capital city of Ljubljana 9
Brizita 363.007 just passed Presnica junction, entering another 25/1000 gradient towards Koper with this empty train from the capital city of Ljubljana
363.010 helped by 363.003 in the rear passes by the small village of Presnica, a significant location in the Koper ramp 10
363.010 helped by 363.003 in the rear passes by the small village of Presnica, a significant location in the Koper ramp
363.032 is seen pushing this train at Presnica, headed by 363.003 11
363.032 is seen pushing this train at Presnica, headed by 363.003

The final section to Divaca

363.028 with the Mercedes train to Koper (usually OBB) crosses another Brizita with a northbound containers train 12
363.028 with the Mercedes train to Koper (usually OBB) crosses another Brizita with a northbound containers train
An extraordinary double traction with 363.016 and 541.022 in front of this train, with 363.038 in the rear. The train will be reversed in Sezana. We see the new Koper line almost ready in the background. 13
An extraordinary double traction with 363.016 and 541.022 in front of this train, with 363.038 in the rear. The train will be reversed in Sezana. We see the new Koper line almost ready in the background.

Besides a couple of lines in Portugal - and just a few - the Koper ramp is the line I've most invested my trainspotting efforts - there was a last chapter to be covered, properly photographing (not just filming) from the air, using the significant capabilities and quality of the Air 3S camera. Don't know if this is a wrap, but what a story it has been!

Lines travelled

Koper SŽ Infrastruktura