On the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova an open discussion on the development of the railway transport was held today. It was attended by representatives of Bulgarian State Railways and National Company “Railway Infrastructure, trade unions, railway experts and media. We remind that at a meeting with the Bulgarian State Railways management yesterday, the transport minister demanded swift action to ensure the safety of employees and passengers.
"In order to find a solution to the problems in the railway transport, we must first point out the problem", Minister Krasimira Stoyanova said at the beginning of the meeting. "I will be uncompromising and resolute with regard to any negligence in the Bulgarian railways system. It is unacceptable for passengers to travel not only in unclean trains but also in unsafe ones," she insisted. "We need to talk openly about the railways," the minister stressed. She said more efforts were needed from the railway operation staff and more control and initiative from the railway management.
The Bulgarian State Railways reported that since yesterday they have started daily inspections in the depots and emergency briefings of the staff. The supply of video recorders in locomotives and multiple unit trains is another measure that is already being worked on and will be implemented.
The Executive Director of “Holding Bulgarian State Railways" EAD Georgi Drumev pointed out that about 17 000 trains run in our country in a month, for which 129 locomotives are needed. "49 of these locomotives are over 40 years old," Drumev said. He added that most of the accidents since the beginning of the year have happened with such locomotives and the control of their maintenance will be seriously strengthened. “We have analysed the reasons that led to the incidents and have taken measures to prevent more of them,” the Bulgarian State Railways director added. In his words, the necessary technical means (water jetters, steam jetters and thermal cameras) have already been purchased to detect and fix the faults on the rolling stock in due time.
"Infrastructure is not what it should be. Passenger transport is the face of railway transport", stressed the Director General of NC "Railway Infrastructure" Stoyan Stoyanov. He added that work was underway to increase speeds on certain sections of the rail network, and that a plan would be in place by the end of September with the most urgent measures related to the country's rail infrastructure.
Railway experts expressed the opinion that it is important to improve the dialogue between Bulgarian State Railways-Passenger Transport Ltd and National Company “Railway Infrastructure, as well as to speed up the implementation of railway infrastructure projects. The trade unions stressed the need for experts in the railways' operating staff and strict control in carrying out repairs and maintenance of rolling stock.
