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Wed, Jun 19 2013

Bulgaria's first high-speed train track 'to be ready by June 2009'

Tue, Feb 24 2009 17:04 CET

byNick Iliev

4208 Views 3 Comments
Transport Minister Petar Mutafchiev says that intense work is being done to complete an electrification and modernisation project on the Plovdiv - Svilengrad stretch of railway line, so that by the end of June 2009 the first high-speed rail line in Bulgaria, from Krumovo to Purvomai, will be operational.

Stroitelstvo Gradut said that construction currently was focussed mainly on building aerial and over-pass crossings, bridges, as well as a full revamp of eight train stations along the Plovdiv - Svilengrad route.

The Railway Infrastructure state company has assigned the renovation of Krumovo train station to Greek company TERNA SA. The total cost for Phase I (Krumovo – Purvomai) is 88 728 832 euro.

Meanwhile, parallel to the developments taking place in Phase I, Regional Development Minister Assen Gagaouzov on February 4 granted an official permit for the commencement of construction for the first five-km segment of Phase II of the Purvomai – Svilengrad line.

The company in charge of construction for Phase II is Italy's Astaldi.

Mutafchiev said that this company would be involved in construction work near the town of Dimitrovgrad. "With their efforts we can be certain that we will be able to complete the project according to the provided time schedule," Mutafchiev said.

Construction of the entire Phase II project would cost 162 537 388 euro and was due for completion by the end of 2010, Mutafchiev said.

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