Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Road and railway projects should not be in opposition as both sectors are equally important for the development of the country, said the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Peter Kirov, during the ceremony on signing the contracts for construction of an intermodal terminal in Plovdiv. The project is a bridge between various modes of transport that will facilitate the more effective handling of transit cargo.

“The area where the terminal is to be built has a strategic importance as two Pan-European corridors pass through it”. The construction contract envisages five months for planning and twelve months for construction. “At the end of 2015 Bulgaria will have a modern intermodal terminal”, added the Deputy Minister.

Trace Group Hold AD will carry out the construction works, and the total amount of the contract is 8 570 541,45 levs VAT excluded. The consultant Rubikon-Test will take on supervision of the construction work, and the contract amounts to 448 950,00 levs VAT excluded. About 70 people are to be involved in the construction and some 25 more jobs are to be opened once the terminal is commissioned. The project is financed under OP Transport 2007 – 2013.

Today’s ceremony was attended by the director General of National Railway Infrastructure Company Milcho Lambrev and the Deputy Director General Hristo Aleksiev.

The intermodal terminal will be constructed near Todor Kableshkov train station, which is part of Plovdiv railway junction and is located on the railway line Sofia-Plovdiv. The site itself will be located in the North part of the station. Vehicles will enter the terminal from the West and they will directly travel on the motorway Plovdiv-Peshtera, instead of passing through populated areas so as to avoid accidents and risks with the TIRs.

The terminal will cover an area of 71 450 м² and will include a terminal site for loading and unloading containers, container storage, storage for damaged containers and equipment, specialized sites for cooling units, an administrative building for servicing customers, customs control point and warehouse, as well as parking lots and check points.