The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the National Railway Infrastructure Company signed an Agreement to finance the project "Modernization of the railway line Sofia - Dragoman - Serbian border, railway section Voluyak - Dragoman - Phase 1". The financial assistance granted amounts to BGN 166.2 million, which will be provided by OPTTI 2014-2020.
A Decision by the Council of Ministers earlier this week gave the green light to the Managing Authority of the Operational Program to conclude the contract before the approval of the project by the European Commission, which is expected by the middle of the current year. The goal is for the selected contractors of the two lots – Voluyak - Petarch and Petarch - Dragoman, to start construction in time, which should be completed by the end of 2023. The planned activities include modernization and partial doubling of the railway line in the 34-kilometer section from Voluyak to Dragoman .
The second phase of the project, which envisages the construction of signaling and telecommunications systems and ERTMS, is included in the Transport Connectivity Program 2021 - 2027. After the end of both phases, the route will allow a speed of 160 km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight.