Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The managements of "Holding BDZ" and SE NRIC presented to the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Nikolina Angelkova specific measures to improve working conditions in the Bulgarian railways and option to improve the safety of rail passengers and loads, as it was requested by her earlier this week.

The documents spelled immediate, medium and long term measures related to the repair and maintenance of rolling stock and railway infrastructure, improving the skills of operational staff and plan to improve safety. The proposed immediate actions of the two companies are related to the verification of the condition of the systems for train dispatching radio communication and automatic locomotive signaling, and the implementation of procedures for daily control, together with strengthened coordination between different departments for safety control in both railway companies.  Also, there is a proposal for immediate start of the implementation of a detailed timetable for the training of operations personnel.

Early next week in operative order Minister Angelkova will discuss with the managements of the railway companies the priority actions in short, medium and long term as well as the financial resources required for their implementation included in the existing budgets.

Immediately after that Minister Angelkova and representatives of MTITC will present for discussion to the trade union partners, the measures for improving the working conditions in the Bulgarian railways and improving the safety of the railway transport of passengers and freight. The goal is within maximum short terms after the approval of the trade unions in the railway transport, the measures to start their implementation.

After all the stakeholders learn and approve the priority actions and the plan for their implementation, Minister Nikolina Angelkova will present them publicly.