For the past three years, Bulgaria has faced significant challenges in securing the necessary financial resources for the construction of the country’s longest rail tunnel, known as the Vakarel Tunnel, which is part of the Elin Pelin – Kostenets railway line. Despite ongoing efforts, the required funding has not yet been obtained, delaying the advancement of this critical infrastructure project. The completion of the tunnel is vital for improving transport efficiency and connectivity along this key railway corridor.
This remark was made by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, during an inspection of the three sections of the Elin Pelin – Kostenets railway route which are modernised. The chairman of the Committee on Transport and Communications in the National Assembly, Kiril Dobrev, also participated in the inspection.
The 6.8 km twin-bore Vakarel Tunnel is estimated to cost EUR 255 million and is one of the most challenging sub-projects, as it runs through a region where the mountainous terrain presents significant infrastructural complexities for transport services. The construction of this tunnel has been launched in 2021.
“Obviously, there is a long delay and countless problems that have been postponed over time by previous ministers. Strengthening activities began three years ago, which have had an effect, but not completely. This requires a third design, which is currently being implemented and the builder states that there are no deformations so far. We expect to know by the end of May whether it is operational,” the Minister of Transport said.
He added that “the limits for unforeseen work activities have been reached, meaning that these resources were utilized in conjunction with the European program that finances the project, as well as with an annex signed a year ago. The available funds have now been exhausted, and unless an urgent solution is found, the continuation of this project is effectively at risk.”
According to preliminary data, this causes a very serious revision of the project, and a new procedure would be necessary, which will be carried out without stopping work on the existing tunnels. The physical progress of the entire section is 40%.
“We are trying to solve the puzzle so that we fit into the deadlines, because the funds under the European programme are until 2030. The goal is to put the Vakarel Tunnel into operation in 2029 so that trains can travel faster,” added the Minister of Transport.
The authorities must take immediate and decisive action to address the situation by urgently identifying both a legal and financial solution. It is crucial that steps are taken without further delay to secure the necessary resources and regulatory approvals, ensuring timely completion of the Vakarel Tunnel project. Without prompt intervention, the prolonged delay could have significant implications for the country’s transport infrastructure and economic development.
Elin Pelin – Kostenets rail project
The 51 km Elin Pelin – Kostenets rail project covers the renewal of 14 km, the construction of 36 km of double track railway line and electrification work, as well as the installation of state-of-the-art signalling systems, improvements at 5 railway stations and stops including the expansion of their platforms, and the construction of new stops in Pobit Stone, Vakarel South and Verinska. The project also involves the construction or renovation of a total of 24 bridges and viaducts and tunnels totalling 21 km.
The European Union provided a co-financing of EUR 665.3 million for Elin Pelin – Kostenets modernisation, of which EUR 471.5 million from the Cohesion Fund through the “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020.
The project is split into three lots:
- Lot 1: the 20 km Elin Pelin – Vakarel section for which BGN 519.7 million (EUR 264.7 million, in current prices) contracts have been awarded. BGN 498.8 million (EUR 254 million in current prices) is the value of the construction contract and BGN 20.9 million (EUR 10.6 million) for supervision contract. The works on the 20 km Elin Pelin – Vakarel section started in 2021 and is the most difficult for works along the entire line between Sofia and Plovdiv. EUR 255 million was the value of the contract awarded to a Cen-Duy Railway Elin Pelin consortium comprising the Turkish companies Cengiz and Duygu. The project is financed by governmental programmes ‘Transport infrastructure 2014-2020’ and ‘Transport Connectivity’ and was scheduled to be completed in four years.
- Lot 2: Vakarel – Ihtiman section for which contracts totalling BGN 134.5 million (EUR 68.5 million, in current prices) of which BGN 113.6 million (EUR 57.8 million) was the awarded construction contract and BGN 20.9 million (EUR 10.6 million) is the supervision contract. Works started in 2023.
- Lot 3: the 11.2 km Ihtiman – Kostenets section with contracts worth BGN 415.5 million (EUR 211.6 million, in current prices) in total, of which BGN 394.5 million (EUR 201 million) is the construction contract and BGN 20.9 million (EUR 10.6 million) is the supervision contract. The construction is carried out by a consortium of Strabag and GP Group AD and was launched in October 2022.
The situation is better for the construction of the second section between Ihtiman and Mirovo (subsection of Lot 2), compared to Lot 1 where there are serious problems. Lot 2 of Elin Pelin – Kostenets line is being implemented on time and the route will be ready by 2028, as planned.
Regarding the third section between Mirovo and Kostenets, work is progressing according to the established schedule. The ongoing construction efforts are proceeding as planned, with all necessary steps being taken to ensure the timely completion of this segment. This section is crucial for improving the overall efficiency and connectivity of the railway line, and the authorities are committed to maintaining momentum to meet project deadlines.
“We have about 30% completion under extremely difficult working conditions and with extremely complex facilities,” the Minister of Transport stated. This involves the construction of eight very large diameter single-tube tunnels with a double-track line, and eleven bridge structures and two viaducts. It is expected that this section will enter commercial operation by the end of 2029.
In the implementation of the project, due to complex administrative procedures, there is a delay of two to three years after concluding contracts for the infrastructure projects. These include expropriation of properties, court appeals, issuance of construction and environmental permits, as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These processes require time to coordinate and finalise the project documentation.
The Ministry of Transport took action to simplify the procedures so that infrastructure construction can be implemented within four, maximum five years. “Currently, there is not enough time even to start the actual construction work. Some of the sites were in tender procedures in 2018–2019. Now it is 2025 and only a little over a year has there been real work. All the other time has been lost in numerous slow procedures,” Karadjov said.
The construction of Bulgaria’s longest rail tunnel, which is also the longest rail tunnel in the Balkans, is part of the project to modernise the Elin Pelin – Kostenetz rail, the largest project in OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure programme, is a key line on the Sofia – Elin Pelin – Kostenets – Septemvri – Plovdiv corridor situated on the TEN-T Orient/East-Med Corridor. The modernisation ofElin Pelin – Kostenets runs in parallel with another project on a continuation of the line (funded by CEF) to upgrade the track between Kostenets and Septemvri.
The Elin Pelin – Kostenets modernisation is the largest project in OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure. When completed, the modernised and expanded line will allow passenger trains to run at 160 km/h and freight trains, at 120 km/h.
The project has a budget of BGN 1.3 billion (EUR 662.7 million), of which BGN 559.7 million (EUR 285 million) is the 85% co-financing from the EU, BGN 99 million (EUR 50.3 million) is the national contribution and BGN 642.8 million (EUR 327.3 million) represent the own funds.
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