Implementation period: 01.2015-06.2020

      The investment project “Modernisation of Vidin-Sofia railway line” provides for the construction of a high speed rail to serve the population, domestic and international freight traffic. The project will ensure interoperability of infrastructure, equipment, control, operation and safety systems, as well as connectivity with European rail networks through the application of unified standards. From a national point of view, the project supports the development of important economic centres of the North-West region of Bulgaria (Vidin, Montana, Mezdra, Vratsa, Botevgrad) falling within the scope of the line, which will lead to the elimination of socio-economic disparities of the region compared to other regions subject to planning and will support the implementation of the plans to achieve economic and social cohesion in the regional development of the country.

      The technical assistance project “Design for the construction of Vidin-Sofia railway line: project update and preparation of Vidin-Medkovets railway section” is a stage of the implementation of the investment project “Modernisation of Vidin-Sofia railway line”.

      The project is financed under Axis V – “Technical Assistance” of Operational Programme on Transport 2007-2013.

Its objective is to achieve project readiness (technical design, coordination, approvals, permits, etc.) for modernisation of Vidin-Sofia railway line in Vidin-Medkovets railway section and for the preparation during the subsequent phase (technical design) of Medkovets-Ruska Byala and Ruska Byala-Stolnik railway sections in the subsequent programme period. It includes the optimisation of the results of the ISPA preparation by updating the parameters and values of the project as a whole, as well as the implementation of all activities related to the preparation of Medkovets-Ruska Byala and Ruska Byala-Stolnik railway sections for the next phase – technical design.