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Constructing Sofia’s integrated urban transport system, stage 2

  • 22 March 2019

Bulgaria’s capital city and its population will enjoy the benefits of a more intelligent and integrated transport system, thanks to an investment from the European Regional Development Fund. The project is for the reconstruction of two tramlines, the purchase of new trams, plus the upgrading of traffic management and passenger information systems. The works are a logical continuation of stage one of the project, which received EU funding between 2007 and 2013.

Stage two of this huge construction scheme consists of four components:

Reconstruction of the tramway track along Kamenodelska Street from the crossroad of K. Stoilov Boulevard to the Orlandovtsi loop. The total length of signal tramway track undergoing reconstruction is 3.2 km, with a 1009 mm rail gauge. The track serves three tram lines and more than 7 000 people every day.Reconstruction of the tramway track along Tsar Boris III Boulevard from Knyazhevo loop to the Sofia Courthouse loop, not including sections of Russian monument square and the crossroad of Tsar Boris III and G. Delchev Boulevard. Total length of the reconstructed single track is 16.2 km, of which 7 km are of differentiated track with 1009 mm rail gauge.Purchase of new low-floor articulated trams.Upgrading of intelligent traffic management and the existing real-time passenger information systems.

Building sustainable public transport

This project builds on the results achieved by stage one, thereby providing Sofia with an integrated public transport system that is environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The project is included in the Municipality of Sofia’s investment programme which focuses on urban regeneration and development.Sofia is the capital and largest city in Bulgaria and is the country’s cultural and economic hub. It is home to 1.3 million people. A further 1.7 million people live in its metropolitan area.

Total investment and EU funding 

Total investment for the project “Sofia Integrated Urban transport – stage II” is EUR 64 159 943, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 46 646 933 through the “Regions in Growth” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Low-carbon economy”.