Dacia Mediterranea

The Sofia municipal company "Metropolitan" is nearing the deadline for public procurement bids to select an architectural-engineering bureau for designing the extension of the metro's second line after the "Vitosha" station in the "Hladilnika" area.

Vogue magazine has recently named Sofia as the most dynamic city in Europe, spotlighting the Bulgarian capital as an unexpected yet thrilling urban destination. The article, known for its fashion and lifestyle insights, portrays Sofia as a city where ancient history and modern innovation coexist harmoniously.

The Sofia Municipality has reported an increase in public transport usage, with 19 million more passengers in 2024, translating to about 90,000 additional daily trips, reports Spasi (Save) Sofia. This growth is seen as a success of the municipality's transport policies, aimed at making public transport more appealing.

The Metropolitan Municipality of Sofia plans to purchase additional metro trains from the Czech manufacturer Skoda, which is the sole bidder for this contract, "Dnevnik" reports. The order, valued at 140 million leva excluding VAT, includes eight new trains.

A new 30-kilometer green ring is set to be developed in Sofia on the former ring railway route, which is currently disused. This initiative, revealed by municipal councilor Vili Lilkov, aims to repurpose the old railway into a space for pedestrians and cyclists, complete with children's playgrounds and green areas.

Starting Monday, August 19, four of the newly delivered German passenger cars will be introduced on the high-speed train service between Sofia and Varna. The train will depart from Sofia's Central Station at 10:00 AM, and an additional four cars will be added to the high-speed train leaving Varna at 9:25 AM.

According to the latest update from Numbeo, an online platform that gathers user-reported data on crime perceptions, Sofia ranks as the ninth most criminal city in Eastern Europe as of mid-2024. The top positions in this ranking are held by Ukrainian cities, including Dnipro and Odesa, followed by Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Lviv.

A new tourist bus line, numbered 200, will start operating in Sofia on August 3, as announced by the Sofia Municipality. The line will feature double-decker buses and run on weekends until September 15, aiming to improve access to tourist sites in Sofia, according to the Council of Ministers.

Sofia Municipality is purchasing 18 new trams, set to operate on lines #20 and #22. This acquisition, announced by Spasi (Save) Sofia, involves an auction of nearly BGN 100 million. The new trams will feature passenger amenities such as air conditioning, low floors, quiet operation, and comfortable lounges.

The expansion of Sofia's "Opalchenska" street is set to commence on July 16, as announced by Ivan Nikolov, director of the Transport Directorate of the Capital Municipality, according to BNR. This project will focus on the stretch from "Slivnitsa" Blvd. to "Todor Aleksandrov" Blvd., aiming to enhance traffic flow and accommodate public transport needs.