This Italian region now has Europe’s highest Tibetan bridge
It’s not for the faint-hearted
The tunnel is part of one of the most important transport lines in the country
Last Thursday, Minister of Transport Georgi Todorov announced the beginning of construction on the longest two-pipe railway tunnel on the Balkan peninsula and in Bulgaria. The tunnel will be 6.8 kilometres long, costing around 300 million euros, and is part of the broader modernisation of the line from the capital of Sofia to the Black Sea, European Corridor No. 8.
The modernisation of the Trakia railway line connecting Sofia with Burgas has been underway for the past 15 years and is set to be completed in 2030. This is one of the most important transport lines in the country as it runs from East to West and is part of the TEN-T EU transport network.
It connects Sofia with Istanbul and the port city of Burgas on the Black Sea, with the transportation lane starting as far away as Hamburg and Bremen. This makes it one of the most important routes between Central Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The 20 kilometre stretch between Elin Pelin and Vakarel is one of the most difficult parts of the whole track and the tunnel will end up soaking a large part of the investment. At the same time, the new track will be able to support speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour for passenger transport and 120 for freight, greatly reducing travel time and allowing for more traffic on the line.
Minister Georgi Todorov was quoted in a press release, saying: "The technical and operational challenges for the builder are extremely great, as this lot is the most difficult of the whole section.”
The funds have been secured through the EU Operational Programme “Transport and transport infrastructure”.
If you want to keep up with how European cities and regions are changing, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
What are the reasons for that and are there any possible solutions for that problem?
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
It’s not for the faint-hearted
Presenting the next chapter in the Dutch capital’s ‘Stay Away’ campaign aimed at rowdy tourists
The City says this has become a necessity due to the increasing number of incidents involving these vehicles
That way you can notify a canal lock keeper to open the gates so the animals can swim through
The organizers had been considering different Parisian spots, but always with the idea of the flame being visible to the people
Electricity production in that Eastern European country will not release direct CO2 emissions anymore
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
This initiative is not just about making books more accessible – it has larger ambitions in its sights
We owe the unusual cultural icon to this country in Europe
The country’s capital has been a pioneer in crafting policy and initiatives to improve coexistence between people and pets
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team