Skopje, 5 March 2026 (MIA) - Bulgaria and North Macedonia will complete the construction of the railway connection between the two countries by 2030, said the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications after a meeting between caretaker Transport Minister Korman Ismailov and Macedonian Ambassador Agneza Rusi Popovska.

The ministry said the next stage in the process is the establishment of a joint committee, led by the deputy ministers of transport. It will coordinate the preparation, the construction and future operation of the facility, BTA reports.

Minister Ismailov noted the accelerated pace at which the Bulgarian side is working on the modernization of the Sofia - Pernik - Radomir - Gyueshevo railway line, while Ambassador Rusi Popovska emphasized that cooperation between the institutions of the two countries is an important prerequisite for the smooth implementation of the project.

The agreement on the preparation, construction, and operation of a cross-border railway tunnel between the countries' governments was signed on 6 November 2025 in the village of Gyueshevo, followed by its ratification by both parliaments.

The construction and reconstruction of the first out of three railway sections on Macedonian territory (Kumanovo–Beljakovce - 30.8 km) has been completed. Currently underway is the construction of a new and reconstruction of the existing section from Beljakovce to Kriva Palanka (34 km). About 30 percent of works are complete of the third section from Kriva Palanka to the border with the Republic of Bulgaria (23.4 km), which will include the cross-border tunnel. This section will feature 22 tunnels and 52 bridges, making it the most challenging part of the project.

On the Bulgarian side, the national railway infrastructure company has already released a tender for construction of a new 2.4 km section from Gyueshevo to the border and rehabilitation of the 17km-long section from Pernik to Radomir.

Photo: MIA