We may not have the political support, but we are seeking public and professional agreement to start making changes to rail. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova during an open expert discussion held today in the building of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The topic was the upcoming procedure for the procurement of public transport services by rail. Representatives of the Ministry of Transport, trade unions, the bus industry, academics, experts, journalists and public figures presented their opinions and recommendations. The meeting was also attended by former Transport Ministers Nikolay Vassilev and Petar Mutafchiev. Prior to the discussion, Minister Stoyanova held a working meeting with trade unions on the same topic.
"The National Recovery and Sustainability Plan envisages a set of reforms and investments, which for the railway sector are the purchase of new rolling stock, a new law on railway transport and the implementation of a competitive, tender-based, non-discriminatory procedure for the award of passenger transport contracts by the state," Minister Stoyanova said. "It would be a grave mistake in this limited time for us as a ministry to be inactive", Minister Krasimira Stoyanova said in response to the presidents of the CPSU and CTU "Podkrepa" Plamen Dimitrov and Dimitar Manolov that now is not the time for such serious decisions for which political responsibility should be borne.
In the new procedure it is planned to divide the railway network for passenger transport into 3 separate positions (lots) - Sofia - Plovdiv - Burgas, Sofia - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Varna and all the others. The next rail passenger service contract will be an 8-year contract for each lot, rather than the current 15-year contract. The contract is expected to be effective from 01.01.2026.
Participants in the discussion agreed that competition would create better conditions for both passengers and rail workers. The bus industry stressed that the liberalisation of rail transport is inevitable and the question is not if it will happen, but when.
The trade union representatives expressed the opinion that the entire railway network should be awarded to 1 bidder. In their words, this will avoid the risk that the profitable lines will be given to private carriers and the losing ones - to Bulgarian State Railways.
"Bulgarian State Railways-Passenger Transport will be an equal participant and will have the opportunity to participate in the procedures for all three lots," Minister Stoyanova said and pointed out that collective bargaining will be preserved. "All the employees of BJP will keep their jobs, salaries and social benefits," the minister added.
