Serbia and Bulgaria Considering Opening New Rail Connection – Intermodal Terminals, Border Crossing Near Pirot Planned

Serbia and Bulgaria have agreed the forming of a joint Work Group, which will apply joint projects in transport.

As the minister of construction, transport and infrastructure of Serbia, Goran Vesic, said on that occasion, the first session of the Work Group will take place in Sofia as soon as this February:

– The topic at the session of the Work Group will be the opening of new rail crossings between Serbia and Bulgaria, concretely, on the Vidin-Negotin and Vidin-Zajecar stretches. We believe that we will present a joint project to the European Commission for another rail connection between the two countries – it is said on the website of the ministry.

He said that intermodal terminals, on the Serbian and Bulgarian sides, which are important due to the increased volume of the transport through the two countries, from Asia, through Turkey, as well as Bulgaria and Serbia, had also been discussed with the minister of transport and communications of Bulgaria, Hristo Alexiev.

He pointed out that they had discussed the need for opening a border crossing near Pirot, in order to enable the residents of Pirot, but also other towns in that part of Serbia and Bulgaria not to be stuck in the big traffic jams at the Gradina crossing and to instead be able to function more easily and visit each other.

Also, Vesic notified Alexiev that the reconstruction of the Nis-Dimitrovgrad railway would begin as soon as May.

– We discussed several projects of mutual significance and we will act together toward the EU when it comes to obtaining financial funds. One of them is the new rail crossing between Bulgaria and Serbia, which was a proposition made by minister Vesic and I am glad that we are thinking along the same lines – Alexiev said.

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Ministry of Construction Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia

European Commission

Goran Vesic

Work Group Serbia and Bulgaria

opening of rail crossings between Serbia and Bulgaria

Vidin Negotin railway

Vidin Zajecar railway

intermodal terminals

border crossing Pirot

reconstruction of Nis Dimitrovgrad railway