Modernisation of a railway section started Orizovo – Mihailovo

The project is funded by.
EU Cohesion Fund, National co-financing,
Beneficiary funds of the State Enterprise NCWi
Value of the project: 261 578 600,50 BGN including VAT
Start date: 13 November2019
Employer: State Enterprise “Railway Infrastructure”
Contractor: SEZP “Euro Railway Infrastructure”

The railway section Orizovo – Mihailovo is part of the global project “Rehabilitation of the railway line Plovdiv – Burgas, Phase 2” and part of the Trans-European Transport Network, transport corridor “Orient/East Mediterranean”, which connects the North, Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas. The railway line Plovdiv – Burgas is a priority in the national railway system and the restoration of the design parameters and the rehabilitation will contribute to improving the quality of the services offered and reducing transport costs. The railway section Orizovo-Mikhailovo includes the construction of a new double track railway line with an approximate length of 37.126 km on Route 1 and 35.328 km on Route 2.

The first stage of the project is the modernization of the stations Orizovo and Chirpan, for which the Construction Permit RS-31 of 16.04.2021 has been issued and is  signed protocol for the opening of the construction site and the determination of the construction line and level dated 20.05.2021. The construction works for this stage include the complete reconstruction of the track development in Orizovo station and in Chirpan station, construction of new drainage systems. At Orizovo station it is planned to build 3 new platforms with separate seating, a new pedestrian overpass  with an integrated new reception building and providing access for persons with reduced mobility to the platforms and the pedestrian overpass. At Chirpan station, two new platforms are to be built with access for persons with reduced mobility to the platforms; rehabilitation of the existing pedestrian underpass and rehabilitation of the existing reception building.

The signalling and telecommunication works include the rehabilitation of the two rooms provided for the route computer interlocking,  the supply, installation and commissioning of new route computer interlocking, the construction of external and platform lighting.

The overhead contact line works include the construction of a new overhead contact line and catenary, the sectioning of the overhead contact line and the integration of the motor drives of the disconnectors into the existing remote control panels.

The second stage covers the modernization of the Orizovo – Mihailovo interurban line, including the construction of a new tunnel to Chirpan station, two grade-separated stations and 4 stops. A new double-track railway is to be built with a design speed of up to 160 km/h. The new route is 37.126 km long for Route 1 and 35.328 km long for Route 2. The dual carriageway splits before the town of Chirpan. Route 1 continues along the existing railway line through the Chirpan station (the so-called bypass) with a reconstruction of the track length of about 5.842 km for a design speed of 80 km/h. Route 2 bypasses the town of Chirpan on a completely new route with a length of about 4.052 km and a design speed of 160 km/h, including the construction of a tunnel with a length of about 835 m northeast of the town. At the end of the bypass, the railway becomes two-track again. At the beginning and at the end of the bypass, two separate posts are formed.

Construction in the second phase includes the construction of 5 road overpasses and 3 road underpasses at locations where the railroad alignment crosses road infrastructure to eliminate at-grade crossings  and the construction of 7 bridges, culverts, culverts, and crosswalks in the area of the railroad stops. Liberty Station closes and becomes a bus stop, and its location changes. Cherna Gora, Spasovo and Samuilovo stops are being reconstructed to fit the new location of the upgraded double track railway. It is planned to reconstruct part of the tracks at Mihailovo station to accommodate the new route.

The signalling and telecommunication works include the rehabilitation of the room intended for the route computer exchange, the delivery, installation and commissioning of a new route computer exchange at Mihailovo station.
The overhead line works include  construction of a new overhead line and catenary, sectioning of the overhead line and integration of the disconnector motor drives into the existing remote control panels.

The project is implemented with funding from the European Regional Development Fund through  OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure and national co-financing.