In August 2007, the Bulgarian ministry of transport awarded Iberinsa and ILF the design services for the modernization of the approx. 270 km railway line from Vidin to Sofia. The entire section comprises numerous bridges, tunnels, stations and other constructions. The main objective is to upgrade the respective railway line in compliance with the requirements of European transport corridor IV, to eliminate current restrictions in order to meet European standards. The project comprises the elaboration of a technical and financial feasibility study, the conceptual design and the preparation of a tendering strategy. Visit www.iberinsa.es and www.ilf.com 50-51/07.
Modernisation of the Vidin–Sofia Railway Line (Vidin–Sratsimir Section)
Ref. No.: 538626
Deadline: 19 March 2026
Procedure: Open
An open procedure has been launched for the modernisation of the Vidin–Sofia railway line, covering the Vidin–Sratsimir section.
The project includes a new 20 km railway section (p.k. 149+393 – p.k. 129+225), comprising one tunnel (2,975 m) and one railway station.
- Route Shortening: The new alignment will shorten the 149 km Vidin-Sofia route by 14 km, focusing heavily on upgrading the Vidin–Medkovets section.
- Infrastructure Improvements: The project includes building two new tunnels (325m and 2975m), 11 viaducts, 6 bridges, and 4 new stations (Dabova Mahala, Vodnyanci, Sratsimir, and Vidbol).
- Performance: The modernization will allow for speeds of 160 km/h for passenger trains and 120 km/h for freight trains.
- Significance: This line is part of the TEN-T transport network, aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece.
- Funding: The project is supported by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
- Current Travel: As of early 2026, existing train services take over 5 hours.
- Project Phases: The modernisation is divided into sections, with significant investment in the Medkovets–Sratsimir section, including new, faster, electrified tracks.
Contract value:
EUR 282.44 million (excluding VAT)
Contract duration:
1,520 days
Client:
National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC), Sofia
Contact:
Attn: Ivelina Kitina
Tel: +359 2 932 2059
Fax: +359 2 931 0663
Email: i.kitina@rail-infra.bg
Tender documents & submission:
https://app.eop.bg/today/538626
EU notice:
https://ted.europa.eu/en/notice/-/detail/39042-2026 05/26.