Bulgaria to finish Plovdiv rail hub modernisation by end of 2026

Bulgaria is modernising the Plovdiv rail hub, which sees more than 100 trains a day, for more than BGN 298 million (equivalent to EUR 152 million) from Connecting Europe Facility funds and the state budget. The core is a road tunnel under the main station, about 800 m long with two lanes (580 m of it enclosed); two construction contracts add renewed track and overhead line, new signalling and telecommunications systems, platforms and pedestrian bridges and underpasses. In November 2025 the transport minister reported progress of 83% (lines) and 85% (station including tunnel) and named June 2026 for completion; under the updated schedule of 6 August 2026 the station is about 90% finished, the display boards are due in October and the pedestrian bridges in November, and all works including the lines to Krumovo and Skutare are to end by the end of the year, with the tunnel last. The date is a placeholder: the article gives only the end of 2026. (LOK Report, 21 Nov 2025 and 6 Aug 2026)