Scientific paper ID 2762 : 2025/3

The railway line Plovdiv - Sofia - Dragoman - Serbian border is part of the Vienna - Belgrade - Sofia - Plovdiv - Istanbul direction along the Orient/Eastern Mediterranean corridor of the Trans-European Rail Network (TEN-T). The sections of the railway lines are of important national and strategic importance. The modernization projects of the individual lots will lead to better conditions for the transport of passengers and goods and to reaching the European standards for interoperability. One of the predicted effects of the modernization is an increase in the volume of freight transport at the expense of road transport. This will lead to a relief of the road network, improvement of traffic safety and reduction of harmful gases emitted into the atmosphere. The reduced travel time and improved accessibility for the population will lead to an increase in passenger traffic. At the higher speed of movement, it is necessary to straighten the route compared to the existing one and to implement numerous tunnels, bridges and overpasses. The approved route crosses the territory of two zones of the Natura 2000 ecological network. These factors will lead to negative consequences for the environment, cultural heritage and human health. The report examines measures for noise reduction, protection of biological species, protection of water and soil at the design stage. An analysis has been made and the main risks faced by the projects are indicated. The projects are currently in the construction phase with a completion date of 2027, with a possible extension to 2029. After their commissioning, it is planned to measure the measures d in the projects to limit harmful impacts.