Balgarianovinite.com At present, Bulgaria has the right conditions to build high-speed rail lines, according to Rumen Markov, CEO of Large Infrastructure Projects. He was speaking Thursday at an event in Sofia on high-speed trains (over 250 kmph) transforming rail travel in the country, organized by Large Infrastructure Projects. He presented projects for Sofia – Varna (with branches to Vidin and Ruse/Bucharest) and Sofia – Thessaloniki high-speed services.
Currently, traveling by train between Sofia, Athens, and Bucharest is impractical, said Markov. The Thessaloniki line is inactive, and the journey to Bucharest takes over 10 hours. The proposed high-speed lines could connect all three countries efficiently.
Data from 2001 – 2025 show declining rail passenger numbers in Bulgaria, with rail accounting for just 1.7% of passenger land transport (compared to 8.1% EU-wide). Freight transport is stronger: 9.4% in Bulgaria versus 5.5% EU average.
The Sofia – Varna line project developed by Large Infrastructure, is designed for 350 kmph, Sofia – Thessaloniki for 320 km/h, starting at Sofia Central Station and including a new station at Vasil Levski Airport. Sofia – Varna travel would take 2 hours 3 minutes, with hourly departures from 6:00 to 22:00. The planned Ruse – Bucharest branch will reduce Sofia – Bucharest travel to 2 hours 20 minutes with ten trains daily. Sofia – Thessaloniki trains would take 90 minutes, Sofia – Athens 4 hours 45 minutes, with eight high-speed and 17 medium-speed trains daily.
A separate S-Bahn project is planned between Sofia, Pernik, and Radomir, with trains every 10 minutes during peak hours.
Markov emphasized favorable conditions: Bulgaria and Romania are in Schengen, Bulgaria is in the eurozone, and EU high-speed rail plans provide potential funding, possibly covering over 50% for multi-country projects ready in 6 – 8 years. Total investment is around EUR 20 billion. He urged the Ministry of Transport to implement a ten-year program rather than fragmented efforts. Expert Sees the Right Conditions in Bulgaria to Build High-Speed Rail Services 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-03-05 19:02:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
After Drone Attack on Two Ships Close to Bulgarian Coast, Opposition Criticizes Power-Holders 2026
