The European Union provides EUR 293 million through the Cohesion Fund for the modernisation of Plovdiv – Burgas railway line. The total amount of the Plovdiv – Bourgas rehabilitation Lot 2 is EUR 414 million.
“Thanks to this EU-funded project, Bulgarian people will enjoy shorter travel time and increased safety. Because this project promotes clean mobility in the country, they will also ultimately benefit from better air quality,” Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu said.
The project envisages modernization of four railway sections (Orizovo – Mihailovo, Skutare – Orizovo, Yambol – Zimnitsa and Starldzha – Tserkovski), as well as the construction of signalling and telecommunication systems along the whole line. The rails and the overhead lines in the corresponding sections with a total length of 90 km will be rehabilitated, and some 26 km of new rail lines will be constructed.
Under the project, 37 existing level crossings will be removed and replaced by two new bridges, 33 road overpasses, 1 pedestrian overpass and 4 pedestrian underpasses.
Currently, the speed limits on the line are between 50 and 80 km/h and after the completion of all construction works, the speed will be increased to 160 km/h.
In April 2018 the modernization of the section Straldzha – Tserovski was completed. Currently the 26-km section between Skutare and Orizovo is under construction and is to be completed at the beginning of 2019.
For the rehabilitation of Orizovo – Mihailovo section, a EUR 126.8 million tender was launched in July, but due to complaints filled the contractor is yet to be selected.
The tender procedure for construction of signalling and telecommunication systems along the whole line between Plovdiv and Bourgas is ongoing. The value of the contract is estimated at EUR 99.7 million (BGN 195 million). By the end of November, the rail infrastructure manager is to sign a contract so that construction works could start. Similar systems are operating along the newly rehabilitated lines Septemvri – Plovdiv and Parvomai – Svilengrad.
All these activities are expected to be completed in 2023.
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