Serbia and Bulgaria have signed a memorandum to establish a new joint border crossing aimed at reducing congestion during periods of increased summer travel. The Gradina 2–Kalotina 2 crossing was agreed on 9 July and will primarily serve Serbian and Bulgarian citizens, as well as cross-border workers.
The new facility will operate alongside the existing Gradina–Kalotina border crossing, providing additional capacity for passenger movement during peak traffic periods.
Existing Border Route Handles Millions of Travellers
The current Gradina–Kalotina crossing recorded significant traffic volumes in 2025, with approximately five million passengers and two million vehicles using the route. The planned additional crossing is expected to improve passenger mobility, support tourism access and facilitate movement of workers between Serbia and Bulgaria. The project is focused mainly on passenger transport and is not expected to represent a major increase in heavy-freight capacity.
Logistics Operators Continue to Face Main Corridor Challenges
For commercial transport, the key issue remains the efficiency of the primary border route connecting Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Delays at the crossing can affect logistics operations by increasing driver working hours, fuel consumption, delivery uncertainty and inventory requirements.
Improving passenger flows through the new crossing could help manage seasonal pressure, while freight operators continue to depend on the performance of the main transport corridor.
Domestic Rail Fares Set to Rise in July
Passenger transport costs in Serbia are also set to change, with domestic rail fares scheduled to increase by an average of approximately 10% from 15 July. The higher fares are expected to contribute to the operating revenue of Srbijavoz, while also adding pressure to transport-related costs and potentially affecting demand among passengers sensitive to price increases.
