The project detailed below concerns the building of a railway line connecting Varna and Ruse – two important port cities in Bulgaria.
The project proposes the repair of the Varna-Ruse railway line, which also runs through Port Varna West. It was first established in the 19th century, designed to facilitate trade between the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and Western Asia. Moreover, the railway provides a direct connection between the strategic ports on the Danube and the Black Sea. Since it was established in the 19th century, the railway has not seen complete repair. Over the years, the government has initiated minor renovations on specific sections of the track, but a complete overhaul is needed to bring it up to 21st century standards.
The overhaul project was approved by the EU and has the goal of reconstructing all neces-sary parts of the railway to make it efficient and safe for transportation. The project is split into two sections, covering parts of the railway. The Ruse-Kaspichan section covers 135 km of railway tracks and will see a single railway line built. The Kaspichan-Varna (that runs through Port Varna West) section covers 97 km of railway tracks and a dual-railway line will be built which will reduce the use of heavy-duty vehicles for the Port's needs. The complete project will see the creation of an intermodal terminal in Ruse. It will service three types of transportation, namely, water, railway, and automobile transport.
Resources needed
The railway renovation is projected to cost 305,714,901 EUR. The intermodal terminal in Ruse and its accompanying infrastructure is set to cost an additional 2,542,579 EUR.
Evidence of success
The renovated railway line will enable efficient transportation between Port Varna West and Port Ruse. At the time of this writing, approximately 100 heavy-duty trucks service Port Varna West for its daily transportation needs. By putting the railway system to proper work, this number could be reduced drastically. Heavy-duty trucks are a major contributor to harm-ful gas emissions. In reducing the number of active trucks, the levels of pollution will drop proportionally.
Potential for learning or transfer
As a result of working on this project, the following learning points were established:
• Proper railway maintenance is necessary for a functioning trans-portation network;
• Railway transportation is more efficient and ecological than using heavy-duty trucks;
• Railway transportation is safer and quicker than other land transpor-tation alternatives.
Tags: Buildings, Development, Infrastructure, Rail
