Development of Sofia Railway Junction: Sofia - Voluyak railway Section
Overview
Background & policy context:
The city of Sofia is one of the main railway nodes of the Balkan.
Objectives:
The proposed action aims to improve the Sofia – Voluyak railway section, located on the Orient/East Mediterranean Corridor, by carrying out the relevant works
The action is part of a Global Project covering the overall development of the Sofia railway junction.
The Action covers seven activities:
- land acquisition
- construction works
- ERTMS deployment
- supervision of construction works and ERTMS deployment
- interoperability assessment
- archaeological monitoring
- project management and communication
The action is expected to have a positive impact on traffic management, modal split, congestion, inter-operability, service quality, safety/security and on environment by shifting traffic from road to rail.
Methodology:
Currently the technical design and the spatial development plan for Sofia –Voluqk are under preparation. It is foreseen the procedure for selection of contractor for construction works to start by the end of 2016. Planned activities include the construction of a new third track between Voluyak Station and Sofia Central Railway Station, as well the upgrading of the existing track development of the two stations.
Construction of a new railway station Obelya that will provide connection with the underground, is also foreseen.
The project objectives are to increase the operational speed to 160 km/h for the passenger rail transport and to 120 km/h for the freight rail transport; to increase the interoperability of the proposed line and respectively along the Orient/East-Med Corridor; to improve safety along the proposed railway route by removing level crossings and intersections or replacing them by grade separate ones; to help in gases reduction by making the railway transport more attractive.
On January 28, 2016 a kick off meeting was held with Mr. Antonio Garcia – Suarez, Project Manager to INEA, EC, during which the Project Implementation Unit members and NRIC management team responsible for CEF projects have been introduced. Progress of Sofia –Voluyak and Sofia - Elin Pelin projects was presented. Common rules for payment and reporting, time schedule, recommendations and draft action plans for the next month by projects have been discussed as well.
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