ISPA INFORMATION SHEET Measure No 2005 BG 16 P PA 004 Measure title Technical Assistance for the Rehabilitation of railway infrastructure along sections of the Plovdiv-Burgas and Mezdra- Gorna Oryahovitsa Railway Lines in Bulgaria Authority responsible for implementation Name: Ministry of Transport Address: 9 Diakon Ignatii Street, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria E-mail: [email protected] Description This is a technical assistance measure to finance needs assessment studies, technical designs and tender documents required for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure along sections of the railway lines Plovdiv-Burgas and Mezdra-Gorna Oryahovitsa. The future investment projects are likely to be presented for financing by the Cohesion Fund. The Plovdiv-Burgas project forms part of an important pan-European transport corridor and represents the main East-West railway line through Bulgaria. It links Bulgaria’s second largest city to the Black Sea port of Burgas. The Mezdra-Gorna Oryahovitsa project forms part of the future TENs transport railway line which links Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, to the Black Sea port and resort of Varna. Estimated completion date of the measure: 31 December 2008 Objectives: The TA measure aims to cover all the preparatory work necessary to ensure that good quality investment projects can be presented for inclusion in the future transport infrastructure operational programme. Economic and social cost-benefit analysis: Cost-benefit analysis will be part of the needs assessment studies to be financed under the TA measure to determine the most viable options. Environmental impact assessment The TA measure will cover environmental impact studies if required by EU and Bulgarian legislation. 1 Cost and assistance (in €) Total cost Private Non eligible Total eligible ISPA grant Grant sector expenditure cost Rate contribution % 10 480 000 0 0 10 480 000 8 908 000 85% 2 .