(ANSA) - BELGRADE, NOVEMBER 16 - The European Union will invest in Bulgaria more than 293 million euro from the Cohesion Fund for the completion of a high-speed railway line between the cities of Plovdiv and Burgas, one of the most important ports on the Black Sea, the European Commission said.

The infrastructure project will reduce travel time for passenger and freight transport by 40 minutes. Trains will allow to run between 130 and 160 km/h along the 293km-line. The program includes several modernisation measures to improve safety on the line, new signalling and telecommunications systems, the replacement of the level crossings by 29 overpasses, a pedestrian bridge and an underpass.

"Thanks to this EU-funded project, Bulgarian people will enjoy shorter travel time and increased safety. Because this project promotes clean mobility in the country, they will also ultimately benefit from better air quality," said EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu. (ANSA).