The eastern Egnatia railway closer to implementation

The last piece of the puzzle that will complete the eastern Egnatia railway claim to build the three schemes that have targeted the six large new generation projects of ERGOSE, totaling 4 billion euros. Today, the expression of interest files for the project of upgrading the existing railway line Alexandroupolis – Ormenio – Greek-Bulgarian border were unsealed, following yesterday’s revelation of the claimants for the section from Thessaloniki to Sagittarius. The three schemes are fixed as follows: AVAX – Alstom, GEK TERNA – Intrakat and ELLAKTOR – Mytilineos.

The contractor will undertake the design and construction of the upgrade of the existing single railway line Alexandroupolis – Ormenio – Greek-Bulgarian Border, 176 km long double line, with installation of signaling systems and ETCS Level1 / reconstruction. Furthermore, flood control works will be constructed due to the overflow of the river Evros (where it occurs), techniques of stream regulation, sewerage – drainage works and flood protection of the railway line, roads, etc.

The budget of the project amounts to 1.08 billion euros (excluding VAT) and this is auctioned through the Competitive Dialogue process, where through the dialogue with the candidates, the final selected solution will emerge, taking into account the existing studies.

The railway line from Alexandroupolis to Ormenio is part of the planned European railway corridor that connects the ports of Thessaloniki – Kavala – Alexandroupolis with the ports of Burgas – Varna – Rousse in the Black Sea and Danube. The overall project aims to increase rail freight capacity in Eastern Europe via an alternative route, which avoids congestion in the Bosphorus.

With the upgrade of the railway line in the Greek part from Alexandroupolis to Ormenio, the cross-border connections with Bulgaria in Ormenio and Turkey in Pythio will be improved. In combination with projects launched or completed in neighboring countries, it will help boost both freight and passenger traffic by ensuring freight transport to Eastern Europe and connection to the Black Sea Port of Burgas and ports in Danube.

It will also lead to the upgrading of the operation of the existing railway line and the possibility of operating as a suburban service line of the areas along the Evros river, with the main characteristics of improving safety, increasing the reliability of the railway and consequently attracting more transport in relation to road means.