Rail infrastructure manager NKZI has announced plans to replace the a section of its Sofia – Vidin main line serving the northwest of Bulgaria with a new alignment, enabling passenger trains to run at 160 km/h and freight trains at 120 km/h.
The 613.5 million-euro project to upgrade the route linking Bulgaria with Romania via the Vidin – Calafat bridge is to be 85% funded by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility, the Railway Gazette reported on Thursday.
The new alignment will bypass a sharply curved section of the existing route through Oreshets and Dimovo, shortening the line substantially.
It will require two tunnels of about 3 kilometers and 325 m, as well as six bridges and 11 viaducts and flyovers totaling 4·7 km.
Four new stations are to be built while two existing stations will be remodeled.
The line is to be laid with heavier rails suitable for the higher speeds. The existing traction substations at Vidin and Brusartsi are to be modernized as part of the EU’s 2021-27 Transport Connectivity program.
The project is to be tendered in three sections, with infrastructure manager NKZI looking to appoint contractors over the coming months.
