More than 2 billion euro would be needed for the completion of priority projects in Bulgaria's railway infrastructure until 2013.

Three-quarter would be needed for construction, with the remaining 25 per cent going to transport of materials and equipment, Toncho Karadjov, deputy director of the National Rail Infrastructure company (NRI) said on October 10.

Karadjov made his announcement at a seminar under the title Contemporary Railway Technology in Russia, Focus news agency said.
Karadjov presented Bulgaria's highest priority projects for railway infrastructure to his Russian colleagues.

Main focuses of the company were to increase the driving speed on separate tracks of the infrastructure and a better compatibility with the European railway infrastructure. "These are very ambitious goals, for the NRI as well as for the administration and for Bulgarian business," Karadjov said.

A high quality of rail services could only be achieved through realization of a number of infrastructure projects as well as serious investments in rolling stock, Karadjov said.