Revenues of BDZ from entertainment trips may reach 4 million BGN per year, stated the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev today during a demonstration journey by steam locomotive to the Cherepish monastery with the participation of Prime Minister Ognian Gerdjikov, ministers and diplomats.
Minister Alexiev added that the idea of this trip is to show to the diplomatic corps, on the eve of the national holiday, the Bulgarian tradition, history, spirituality, because it is important and should be promoted.
We are currently elaborating a program of entertainment trips by train, holding talks with tour operators regarding such activity. "The idea for them is to be regular trips, not periodic. For this purpose is necessary a clear schedule, involvement of tour operators and advertising, and I think that the presence of the entire diplomatic corps today is a very serious advertising of that", also added Minister Hristo Alexiev.
Bulgaria is one of the few countries in Europe which possesses such rolling stock - steam locomotives and historic wagons in operation. In most countries in Europe they are museum exhibits. This is the biggest advantage for the realization of our intentions on the entertainment trips, said the Minister.
Speaking to reporters Minister Alexiev made a brief assessment of achievements over the past month within the railway system. The schedule performance of the trains has been improved from 77% to 92%. Delays on daily basis have been reduced from 2,500 to 680 minutes. Minister Alexiev noted that these results were achieved by means of better organizational measures without spending additional financial resources, which were even saved for the company.
