September 19 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry and two international consortia led by French Sistra and Czech Sudop Prague signed on Wednesday contracts for railroad repairs worth a combined 8.5 million euro ($11.9 million).
The repairs will improve passengers' safety and comfort, and will allow trains to run faster.
One of the consortia - comprising Sistra, Sudop Prague, Spanish Getinsa and local Trans El Engineering - was awarded a 5.5 million euro contract for the upgrade of a railway section between Mezdra and Gorna Oriahovitsa, both in northern Bulgaria. The other consortium, comprising Sudop Prague and Trans El Engineering, will refurbish a section between Plovdiv and Bourgas under a 3.0 million euro contract.
Last year the government adopted an ambitious several-billion euro plan for the modernisation of the country's motorways, railroads, ports and airports by 2015 seeking to foster economic development.
($=0.716 euro)