Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The full exploitation of the "New Europe" bridge has started, said the Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Petar Kirov during the opening of rail traffic across the bridge at Vidin - Calafat.

The ceremony was attended by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport of Romania Julian Matache and the Romanian delegation he headed, the Mayor of Vidin Gergo Guergov, the governor of Vidin Krastio Spassov, the Director of National Railway Infrastructure Company Milcho Lambrev, the Deputy Executive Director of "Holding BDZ" Chavdar Trendafilov, MPs and others.

"We all know that rail transport is essential for the balanced development of the transport system of a country”, said Petar Kirov. The "New Europe" bridge does not only have strategic significance, but also is of regional importance – it provides an opportunity for the development of the business and the relationships between people in the two countries. "The launch of the railway traffic proves that we can achieve a lot when we work as partners", added Deputy Minister Kirov. He hopes that the first freight train will soon pass across the facility.

The State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport of Romania Julian Matache thanked for the good cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria. The passenger train that will connect Vidin with the Romanian town of Craiova will run regularly twice a day.

After the ceremony the guests and media representatives traveled by passenger train to Calafat and participated in the celebrations of the town.