The governments of Bulgaria and Turkey are planning to build a second border crossing for rail transport near the Bulgarian town of Lesovo to relieve congestion at the Kapikule border crossing. Preparations are underway on the Bulgarian side, including the drafting of implementation plans, an analysis of the current situation, transport forecasts and a capacity analysis. These measures follow a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023, which aims to accelerate the construction of the new border crossing. Turkey is currently building a high-speed rail (HSR) line between Istanbul and Kapikule, which will also be accessible to rail freight transport and increase transport volume at the border crossing.
