Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Aleksandar Tsvetkov was among the passengers in the train “Corona Express” running in the direction Sofia - Bankia - Sofia. A presentation for the possibilities of Holding Bulgarian State Railways EAD for realization of attraction trips was made during the trip.

There is already a developed program for attraction trips realized by the railway. If the passengers desire to feel kingly, they can enjoy these services, said Aleksandar Tsvetkov. A part of the suggestions to the clients of the Bulgarian State Railways are the carriages of Tsar Boris III and his family (“Corona Express”), as well as the carriages of “Vitosha Express” that were used by the former head of state Todor Zhivkov.

The attraction trains can be rented for tourist tours and for seminars and ceremonies, explained the Minister. The hire of one carriage costs about 700 levs per day, and the hire of the steam locomotive is about 950 levs per day. There is an interest to these services and our expectations are the travels with retro trains, realized by the Bulgarian State Railways to increase twice, said Minister Aleksandar Tsvetkov.

 At the moment the ticket for the retro train that travels from Sofia to Bankia costs 0.80 stotinki. The price is the same as the price of the common trains on these lines. For the first 10 days approximately 9 000 people have travelled and the incomes amount to 8 000 levs. After the expiration of the promotion time of 20 days, the travelling with the retro train on these lines will cost 5.00 levs.

The trips with retro trains are a rarity in Europe and we expect a strong foreign interest, said the Minister. For the first three months of the year there is above 60 000 levs incomes from such trips. The tourists that have taken advantage are from England, Australia, France, Germany and Japan. That became clear during the presentation.