Over 35% of the new Plovdiv-Bourgas railway line has been constructed and, once operational, will allow speed of 160 km/h. The project is among the largest infrastructure sites in Stara Zagora Region. Railway lines of 292 km (total extended length of the rail track) are being upgraded within the project, which is expected to be completed in 2015. The progress under the project was presented at a forum about the projects within OP Transport in the region, which took place in Stara Zagora.

The railway line to the coast is upgraded within OP Transport. The first section is expected to be set into operation by the year’s end. Representatives of the contractor-company reported that 100% of the construction materials have already been supplied and they have ensured organization for successful completion of the project.

The participants in the forum discussed the effect of the recently launched Stara Zagora road junction, which was the first finished site of the Trakia Motorway. They voiced hope that the main section of the motorway to the coast will be completed in July. Contracts on construction and supervision of the value of about 280 million euro after VAT have been signed within the project. A new section of 115 km, divided in three lots, is under construction.

“92% of the programme budget or over 1.843 billion euro have been contracted“, Galina Vassileva, Director of the Coordination of Programmes and Projects Directorate with the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications, reported. She said that about 590 million euro or about 30% of the total budget have been paid up, while the European Commission has refunded about one fourth of the budget.

Other projects implemented with the European programme were also presented within the forum. Railway lines of 16 km have been constructed under the project Svilengrad-Turkish border and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Interest was also shown to another big project, which is expected to exert an impact on the economy region – the Maritsa Motorway. The Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications said that 11% and 27% of lots 1 and 2, respectively, have been implemented. They are expected to be completed in 2013.

The priorities for the next programming period and the possibility that BDZ Passenger Services receives European funding for the purchase of new trains were also discussed. As at the present moment, European financing of the value of about 300 million euro is expected to be received.

Participating in the forum were experts of RINC, the Road Infrastructure Agency, representatives of Thrace Group Hold and consortium, GCF company under the Obligations and Contracts Act – SK-13 – Thrace Railinfra, as well as of the executive and local authorities, media, etc.