Türkiye and Bulgaria plan new rail links to boost Asia-Europe trade

Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu held high-level talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Peev in Sofia on Thursday, focusing on enhancing bilateral transport connectivity. The meeting comes as both nations seek to accommodate surging freight traffic moving between Europe and Asia through the Balkan corridor, with railway infrastructure identified as a critical bottleneck requiring immediate attention.

Infrastructure expansion on the agenda

Discussions centered on developing international transport infrastructure under the Development Road initiative, a major project designed to facilitate seamless cargo movement across the region. Uraloglu disclosed that the two delegations evaluated plans for establishing a second railway link between the countries, alongside proposals to convert sections of the existing Plovdiv-Svilengrad-Türkiye border line into double-track infrastructure. These upgrades would significantly increase capacity and reduce transit times for goods traveling along this strategic route.

Strategic importance of rail connectivity

The Bulgarian capital served as the venue for these negotiations, underscoring Sofia's role as a key transit point in Southeast Europe. Uraloglu emphasized that Ankara remains committed to ensuring that stronger transport links between the two neighbors further contribute to trade volumes and transportation efficiency between the European and Asian continents. The Development Road project aligns with Türkiye's broader vision of positioning itself as a central logistics hub, complementing existing maritime and highway networks that already facilitate substantial commerce through the region.