Bulgaria Transport Sector

The modernization and digitalization of Bulgaria’s transport sector will help connectivity within the country and in neighboring countries, as well as help decrease some of the carbon footprint caused by various means of transport.  

There are three projects within Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) that support this goal. Funds allocated for these projects stand at $1.5 billion, of which $1.1 billion will come from the RRP and $431 million from National Funding. 

Construction of an inter-city network of railway transport (S-Bahn type) will make mobility in suburban areas more convenient and greener. This plan includes 35 single-story and seven double-story train carriages with top speeds of 100 MPH traversing metropolitan areas, which will increase productivity and decrease load on train depots and the environment. The project is expected to start in 2022 and be completed by 2026. The budget for this initiative is estimated at $509 million. Interested U.S. companies can find more information about the project once it is officially launched at https://www2.aop.bg/  

Facilitating more efficient transportation of cargo is another part of Bulgaria’s RRP. This includes construction of an intermodular regional hub outside the city of Rousse, expected to be completed by 2026. Spanning 124 acres, the hub will enable efficient loading and unloading of cargo carriages. Estimated at $26.5 million, it is expected to support the economic growth of northern Bulgaria and promote trade between Bulgaria and neighboring countries. More information about the project can be found at https://www2.aop.bg/ and https://www.rail-infra.bg/ or at the Ministry of Transport at https://www.mtc.government.bg/  

The third project within the RRP targets sustainable transport. At a cost of $110.6 million, it includes development of another line, Line 3, of the Sofia subway system, which will connect more suburbs and reduce car traffic. The line will connect the suburban neighborhoods of Hadzhi Dimitar and Levski, home to numerous residents and the entry point for the main road arteries into Sofia. At 3 kilometers long, the three stations of Line 3 will service up to 7 million passengers by 2026, when the project is expected to be complete. This will drastically cut down emissions and decrease vehicle traffic by approximately 7,000 cars daily. The project also aims to significantly reduce commuting times. Construction will be the responsibility of the municipality-owned operator of the subway, Metropoliten AD. It is reported that Siemens (Germany) and Newag (Poland) will produce the trains for the subway.

For more information, visit https://www2.aop.bg/ and https://www.metropolitan.bg/bg/procurement.