Sea2Sea: intermodal transportation bypassing the Bosphorus
Since the pandemic, the logistics industry has entered a new phase of development that is forcing all market players to rethink the way they do business. Problems in the supply chain, sanctions, rising tariffs – these and many other factors are significantly complicating activities, but at the same time are an incentive to find new solutions. One such solution is the Sea2Sea project, a joint initiative between Bulgaria and Greece. Its goal is to build an intermodal highway that will allow transportation without entering the Bosphorus.
The partners plan to build a railway line between the port of Thessaloniki in Greece and Burgas in Bulgaria. In addition, the main line will connect Varna and Rus, located on the banks of the Danube near the border with Romania. The implementation of the Sea2Sea program will make it possible to transport cargo between ports on the Aegean and Black Seas without having to enter the Straits of Turkey.
Now the project is at the stage of coordination of conditions and establishment of a joint Greek-Bulgarian company, through which investments will be made in the construction of infrastructure. The main part of the investment will be in the construction of the railway line between Thessaloniki and Toxotis. The route will pass through the port of Kavala and the region leading to the border between Greece and Bulgaria.
It should be noted that Sea2Sea is of strategic importance for Greece, as it will allow the country to increase the activity of its ports located on the shores of the Aegean Sea. In addition, the project will modernize the rail infrastructure, which will reduce the time needed to transport goods. In turn, the port of Thessaloniki will handle the containers that are currently transported by ships through the Bosphorus.
According to the analysis of the Greek company ERGOSE, the new route will make it possible to transfer part of the water transport to the railways, which will generate 650 million euros per year. The authors of Sea2Sea plan to use the new infrastructure for freight and passenger transport. The Greek side emphasizes that the implementation of the project is in line with the initiatives of the European Union in the field of the development of sustainable intermodal transport. In the future, the route may be extended through Romania and other countries.
Bulgaria also plans to modernize and expand the railway line that runs to the border with Serbia. According to official information, the contracts for the construction works will be agreed upon and concluded by the end of 2023, and the completion of the line is planned for 2028.
Greece has already allocated more than 3 million euros for the implementation of Sea2Sea in its country, with the total investment estimated at 26 million euros. The amount will be spent on the modernization and construction of about 382 km of railways.
