Quite a few prestigious media outlets in Bulgaria and in Romania published information, over the past few weeks, that a fast train Ruse-Bucharest-Otopeni would start running as of the spring of 2024. It was said that the ticket would cost EUR 5 (25 lei), and data was given as to the duration of the journey and the speed that was quite impressive.

The initial source of the information was an anonymous Facebook page, which has periodically, throughout 2023, been posting information about the launch of such a railway line. It is not made clear in these posts, however, where this information came from, as it does not include any official statements by Romanian railway companies or institutions. Yet, the “news” went viral in social media and many people on both sides of the border believed it. State and private media outlets with good standing in Bulgaria and Romania quoted each other as reliable sources, without checking the initial source of information and without making inquiries of any state or private institutions engaged in railway transport. The information was even picked up by English-language media with an interest in railway transport.

According to the latest version of the announcement concerning a future fast train Ruse-Bucharest-Otopeni, posted by the anonymous Facebook page just before the New Year, the railway line is supposed to be operated by the private passenger railway company Transferoviar Călători. Radio Bulgaria got in touch with the company to inquire about the information that has been published, and to ask to what an extent it corresponds to the truth. The company’s answer was received on 17 January, 2024.

Transferoviar Călători says “it is constantly looking into the opportunities of extending the railway network”. And adds that its intentions regarding new railway lines cannot be made public at this initial stage of extension of the railway network in Romania. Operating a railway line from Ruse to Henri Coanda International Airport (Otopeni) calls for “coordinated efforts by the Romanian and Bulgarian partners, all other elements connected with the actual implementation of the project, such as the cost of the ticket, the duration of the journey and the expenses of such a journey shall be decided by the two partner sides.” “Moreover, in view of this, it is the two partner sides that should make any information regarding such a transnational project public,” Transferoviar Călători writes in its reply.

To sum up, it looks like a certain amount of initial interest in running such a railway line does exist, but there are no concrete agreements on such a project as yet, and they would be no easy thing. But if such an agreement were to be reached, this would be announced by the Romanian company and its Bulgarian partners simultaneously and in coordination with each other, and not by an anonymous Facebook page.

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova