site.btaTransport Ministry, National Railway Infrastructure Company Sign BGN 166.2 Mln Contract for Voluyak-Dragoman Track Upgrade

The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the National Railway Infrastructure Company Friday signed a contract for funding a project for the first phase of modernization of the Sofia-Dragoman-Serbian border railway line in the section between Voluyak and Dragoman. Funds to the amount of BGN 166.2 million will be extended under Operational Programme Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020, the ministry said. 

A Government decision earlier this week gave the programme’s Managing Authority the green light to conclude the contract before the project is vetted by the European Commission, which is expected by mid-year. The aim is to enable the chosen contractors for the two lots to have time to complete the works by the end of 2023. The works include upgrading and partial doubling of the 34-km stretch between Voluyak and Dragoman.

The second phase of the project, featuring signaling, telecommunication and ERTMS development, is included in the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027. After the two phases are completed, the track will allow speed of 160 km/h for passenger and 120 km/h for freight trains.