site.btaBulgaria, North Macedonia to Sign Agreement for Construction of Railway Tunnel

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of the Republic of North Macedonia Aleksandar Nikoloski would sign an agreement on the preparation, construction and operation of a cross-border railway tunnel between the two countries, the Transport Ministry said Tuesday. 

The signing of the agreement will take place on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. at Gyueshevo railway station. Representatives of the European Commission, diplomatic missions of EU and NATO countries in Bulgaria, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank will also attend the ceremony.

The cross-border tunnel is a part of the Western Balkans–Eastern Mediterranean transport corridor and Corridor VIII. Its construction will provide a vital rail link between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, improving transport access between the Black Sea and the Adriatic.

The two countries are currently not connected by rail. The planned length of the tunnel is approximately 2.4 km, with half of this located on Bulgarian territory. Construction of the tunnel will support the economic development of the region and strengthen the integration of transport networks at EU and NATO levels.