The administration of the western Bulgarian city of Pernik has renewed its initiative for a connection to subway of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

On Monday, the Deputy District Governor of Pernik, Radoslav Yordanov, announced that the local authorities have renewed their talks with the central government for the building of a new train station that will provide a connection between the Pernik-Sofia rail line and the Sofia subway.

Monday's talks were held with Deputy Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski; several more meetings are expected to take place between the various authorities, including representatives of National Company "Railway Infrastructure", reported BTA.

The train station in question is located between the Sofia Districts Gorna Banya and Zaharna Fabrika. It was started several years ago but was subsequently frozen. According to Yordanov, BGN 500 000 are needed to complete this project, and they will probably be procured from a EU program.

The project should link the city of Pernik to the only operational line of the Sofia Metro. (The second line is under construction, and will open in 2012.)

Pernik, a city of over 80 000, is located 30 km southwest of Sofia; about 20 000 commuters from Pernik go to work in the Bulgarian capital every day.