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A NEW train route has relaunched in Europe - and it connects three countries along the way.

Even better, tickets start from just €8 (£7).

A new train journey is connecting three countries, starting in Trieste in Italy
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A new train journey is connecting three countries, starting in Trieste in ItalyCredit: Getty
Stops include Ilirska Bistrica in Slovenia
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Stops include Ilirska Bistrica in SloveniaCredit: Alamy
The train journey, taking over two hours, ends in Croatia
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The train journey, taking over two hours, ends in CroatiaCredit: Getty

Having first been built 150 years ago, the train line connects Italy to Croatia via Slovenia.

It closed more than 30 years ago but has recently relaunched with eight stops along the way.

Passengers can board at Villa Opicina train station in Trieste at 7:50am.

The first stop is on the Slovenian border in Sežana, followed by Divača, Pivka and Ilirska Bistrica, the final stop in Slovenia, at 8:54am.

Read more on European trains

The train then enters Croatia, stopping at Šapjane, Opatija Matulji and Rijeka, the final stop.

The entire journey takes around two hours and runs both ways.

The return train leaves Rijeka at 6:25pm, finishing back in Italy's Villa Opicina at 8:40pm.

The service will run until late September though, if successful, it's hoped it will operate long term.

Operator Slovenian Railways says on the website: "The aim of the project is to improve the connectivity of the two regions and to test the feasibility of using public transport for tourism purposes on this route."

Tickets for adults start from €8 (£7) each way, while kids between the ages of 6 to 12 cost just €4 (£3.50).

Little-known European train route with the world's 'most breathtaking scenery' - and tickets only cost £8

Kids under the age of six travel free of charge.

Tickets between some of the stations start from as little as €1.20 (£1), with the cheapest route being between Ilirska Bistrica and Šapjane, being just 11km.

WiFi is available onboard and bikes can be taken as well, although this costs another €5 (£4.30).

Full train times of new Italy-Croatia train route

The new train route will run from April 24 to September 30, operating in both directions.

Italy to Croatia route:

  • Villa Opicina - 7:50am
  • Sežana - 8:01am
  • Divača - 8:11am
  • Pivka - 8:32am
  • Ilirska Bistrica - 8:54am
  • Šapjane - 9:08am
  • Opatija Matulji - 9:37am
  • Rijeka - 9:54am

Croatia to Italy route:

  • Rijeka - 6:25pm
  • Opatija Matulji - 6:41pm
  • Šapjane - 7:07pm
  • Ilirska Bistrica - 7:25pm
  • Pivka - 7:49pm
  • Divača - 8:18pm
  • Sežana - 8:28pm
  • Villa Opicina - 8:40pm

It's not the only new European train that has launched in recent weeks.

Back in March, a 15-hour night train journey launched connecting Brussels and Prague for the first time.

Operated by European Sleeper, the route stops in Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden before arriving in Prague.

Dutch train operator GoVolta hopes to launch train routes from Amsterdam to Berlin and Copenhagen in 2025.

And Czechia public transport operator Leo Express has revealed plans to connect Belgium to Slovakia via a 19-hour train journey.

Read More on The Sun

Travel deals

If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue.

  • Hotels in Trieste from £57 per night -
  • Airbnbs in Trieste from £36 per night -
  • Flights to Trieste from £46 one way -
  • Hotels in Rijeka from £30 per night -
  • Airbnbs in Rijeka from £21 per night -
  • Flights to Rijeka from £33 one way -

It would stop at Bruges, Brussels, Cologne, Hanover, Leipzig, Dresden, Prague and Bratislava along the way.

The UK may get new international train routes, with both Virgin and start-up Evolyn set to take on Eurostar.

The Italy to Croatia train route will run until September
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The Italy to Croatia train route will run until SeptemberCredit: Getty
Slovenia stops include Sežana
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Slovenia stops include SežanaCredit: Alamy
The final stop is Rijeka in Croatia
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The final stop is Rijeka in CroatiaCredit: Alamy
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