Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Rossen Jeliazkov, announced that it plans to launch repair, modernisation and reconstruction works for several railway stations across the country. The programme includes the modernisation of Iskar, Karnobat and Nova Zagora, and construction of entirely new stations in Obelya and Kostenets. “The investments made in recent years in rail infrastructure are real and visible,” Jeliazkov said.
The announcement was made during the official start of the reconstruction of Poduyane railway station, one of the first built in Sofia in 1930. “The project aims not only to keep the authentic look of the station but also to emphasize it. This is a great challenge for the contractor, who has undertaken to complete the reconstruction within the stipulated period of 15 months,” Jeliazkov said.
The project includes full renovation of the reception building, new energy efficient systems, the installation of high-tech modern system such as the electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as design and implementation of structural reinforcement and renovation of building elements.
The reconstruction of Poduyane railway station is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Operational Program “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” 2014-2020.
The modernisation of Poduyane station is part of the project on the reconstruction of Iskar and Kazichene stations which has a EUR 6.25 million total eligible cost granted for the operation. The project is expected to be completed in 2021.
In November 2017, the project for the reconstruction of railway station complexes on the main TEN-T network was changed, with Chirpan railway station being replaced by Karnobat railway station. The modernization project also includes the railway stations of Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Kazichene, Iskar and Poduyane.
Since its construction, in 1930, Poduyane railway station it has not been reconstructed. The station is part of the railway Sofia-Plovdiv, which is the busiest rail route in Bulgaria. In 2017, 1.4 million passengers used railway transport services on Sofia-Plovdiv line.
In the next 10-15 years, authorities expect that the railway transport will become the first country’s mode of transport “as this is the European trend for the development of transport sector. Europe and the whole world invest in rail infrastructure and transport. It’s cheaper, more convenient and environmentally friendly transport mode, so we need to keep maintaining the infrastructure and modernising it,” Jeliazkov explained.
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