The government has approved a procedure that will open the country’s passenger rail transport to private operators, including foreign ones. This is set to begin on December 13, 2026. The planned duration of the contracts is 12 years. The country is divided into three regions (lots) – western, northern and southern. The procedure, which is part of the reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is expected to be announced next week in the Official Journal of the European Union so that all European operators have equal access to it.
"The government's goal is to make rail transport the backbone of public transport in the country. Competition will not just be about subsidies, but about delivering better service to passengers", said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov.
According to a 2024 report by the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ), the average train speed in the country is 49.25 km/h.
Edited by Miglena IvanovaPublished and translated by Kostadin Atanasov
Photo: BTA
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