Alexandroupoli-Burgas international cargo railway line under design

The Ministry of Infrastructure has initiated contacts with Bulgaria to upgrade the existing Alexandroupolis-Ormenio-Svilengrad-Burgas railway line, aiming to facilitate its funding by the EU as an transnational project of common interest.

In that sense, the so-called “Bosphorus Bypass” is considered to be one of the most time and cost-eficient projects, as this line is expected to accelerate the shipment of goods and commodities, considerably compared to Black Sea’s water passage towards the Aegean, a route that has been burdened by excessive traffic over the recent years.

As it is told by officials of the Ministry, just 5% of today’s traffic is enough to make the line commercially viable. The plan seems to have secured the “green light” by the European Union, which has generally been in favor of transnational railway projects.

A few weeks ago, a meeting has also been held between the administration of the Ministries from both countries, in order to set the plan gradually in motion. Funding, which is the key for the project’s implementation, as well as a thorough cost-benefit study that will decide whether the project is “bankable” or not.

The project

According to executives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the project’s Greek section (Alexandroupolis-Ormenio) needs electrification works, signaling installation as the line’s infrastructure has already been upgraded. The Bulgarian section needs more interventions, as infrastructure needs improvements in order to supportd greater speeds. Generally, as a transnational project, the cost has not yet been estimated, but moves will certainly been made to boost its implemetation. It is noted that the entirety of the line is single track.

The Greek section is essentially the eastern end of the future “Railway Egnatia” that currently exists between Florina-Thessaloniki-Serres-Alexandroupolis and Ormenio with very limited possibilities for both passenger and freight transport.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

Follow Nikos Karagiannis on Twitter