“Rehabilitation of Skutare-Orizovo and Straldhza – Tserkovski railway sections, part of project: Rehabilitation of railway infrastructure along Provdiv-Burgas Railway line, Phaze 2”

Lot 1: Rehabilitation of Skutare-Orizovo Railway Section

The 26-kilometer long railway section "Skutare - Orizovo" was opened with an official ceremony on 28.07.2020. In the presence of the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov together with Mr. Krassimir Papukchiiski -General Director of National Railway Infrastructure Company in Bulgaria, Ms. Dani Kanazireva -   Regional Governor of Plovdiv Municipality and the project manager Dipl. Eng. Vasil Shilov was cut the ribbon of the infrastructure project.

In front of the guests, Dipl. Eng. Papukchiiski thanked for the loyalty of all of those who participated in the construction process, including to the local authorities and added: “We are all convinced that construction works were completed on time and in quality manner. The parameters of the railway line cover 130-160 km/h, which will lead to better service of both passengers and cargo, as well as will lead to safer traffic in the area. In a period of pandemic when the road freight transport was paralysed, the railway transport has shown its potential. "

The cost of the project amounts to 69 308 000 BGN.

Trace's builders and engineers implemented rehabilitation of the railway road and catenary, all the artificial structures that are part of the construction works on the lower superstructure of the railway track - large and small bridges, culverts, drainage ditches, etc. A new signalization and telecommunication and drainage system has been established and put into operation. Technical and reception buildings of Manole station, Belozem station and Opalchenets station have been repaired. Noise protection and protective walls have been built at Manole and Belozem stations, as well as at a pedestrian overpass at Belozem station.

Dipl. Eng. Vasil Shilov, who is the the project manager, commented: “Stepping on this construction site we found, jokingly, a 110-year-old infrastructure (110 years ago Belozem station was put into operation) and today, 3 years later, after completion of the rehabilitation work, “Skutare-Orizovo” section is safer, passengers can travel faster and are able to cross from north to south without hindrance, using the overpass”. He thanked everyone for the support and assistance, as well as his team for the work done.

In his speech, the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov described Plovdiv-Burgas railway line modernization as one of the "challenges of the new digital world, where human mistakes are reduced to zero and the pleasure of traveling is a fundamental goal." Minister Zhelyazkov announced that: "By 2023, Plovdiv-Burgas should be the railway road we are used to associate with the concept of European railways and this is already a fact, because we have all the guarantees to achieve it."

Purpose of the project:

The rehabilitation of Skutare - Orizovo railway section is a part of the project "Rehabilitation of the railway infrastructure on the railway line Plovdiv - Bourgas - Phase 2". The overall purpose of the project is the completion of the activities for development and rehabilitation of Plovdiv - Burgas railway line. In this way, the existing infrastructure will be modernized and the quality of the provided transport services in Bulgaria will be improved.

Benefits from the project:

The railway line Plovdiv - Burgas is a priority in the national railway system and the rehabilitation will contribute to the improvement of the quality of the services offered and to the reduction of the transport and operating costs. Higher speed and higher quality of service will help to improve railway transport competitiveness compared to other modes of transport. The project also has indirect benefits that are related to the development of the region: new jobs and raising the standard of living of the population.

Description of the project:

The project covers the railway section from Skutare Station to Orizovo Station with a length of 26,135 km. The section includes Manole and Belozem stations.

The contract for the rehabilitation of Skutare-Orizovo railway line, including Manole, and Belozem stations will provide a speed of up to 130 km / h for train movements.

1. Railway track and facilities in the section Skutare - Orizovo from km 16 + 894 (Skutare station) to km 43 + 029 (Orizovo station), incl. Manole and Belozem stations:

• Dismantling, transporting, sorting and storing the materials from the existing railroad and switches and handing them over to the Employer;

• Blasting the existing ballast prism and transporting the ballast. Cleaning of the excavated ballast and subsequent recycling / shredding for its use as a protective layer;

• Earthworks, rehabilitation, landscaping and achievement of the load bearing capacity according to the Technical Specifications and laying of a protective layer;

• Construction of new and rehabilitation of existing drainage systems;

• Rehabilitation of artificial structures from the lower infrastructure construction (big and small bridge structures, culverts) in the section of Skutare - Orizovo from km 16 + 894 (Skutare railway station) to km 43 + 029 (Orizovo station);

• Construction of new drainage facilities (ditches) and drainage systems;

• Laying of a new upper construction of the railroad and the swithes with rails type 60 E1 and reinforced concrete sleepers with unsustainable elastic fastening and new ballast, making of a bare-track railroad

The project has been implemented with funds from the European Regional Development Fund through OP “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” and national co-financing.

Rehabilitation video you can find here and here.