News

Within the framework of the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova held meetings with Uzbekistan's Transport Minister Ilham Makhmatov and Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka.

Deputy Minister Anna Natova agreed with Minister Makhmatov to hold a joint committee on air transport in Uzbekistan in June. The aim is to discuss opportunities for developing sustainable multimodal transport connectivity between Asia and Europe, as well as creating a platform for cooperation between logistics companies from both countries. 

The first 19 modernized passenger cars that BDZ bought from the German company Deutsche Bahn arrived in Bulgaria today. They are expected to be operational on the country's rail network by mid-June.

The tenders submitted in the tendering procedure without prior announcement for the supply of 35 electric multiple units to be purchased with Recovery and Sustainability Plan funds were opened today.

A total of four bidders have submitted documents in the tender, the deadline for which expired yesterday. These are PESA, Alstom, Škoda and Stadler Polska. The appointed committee is to examine the bids and negotiate with the companies within a short period of time.

Carrying out joint checks using the method of comprehensive roadside checks is one of the most effective ways of preventing drivers from carrying passengers and goods. This was stated by Borislav Muerov, the Executive Director of the Automobile Administration Agency, during today’s action, which is taking place in the area of the road junction ‘Zherkovo’ on Hemus Motorway. He pointed out that this approach is applied in many EU countries and has a positive effect on road safety.

Experts from the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NKZI) and trade unions have started work on finalising the texts of the Collective Labour Agreement for workers in the state enterprise. It is expected to be signed next week once all the parameters have been agreed by both sides. This became clear after a meeting of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov with the Board of Directors of the National Railway Company and representatives of the trade unions.

The helicopter will reach the Zheleznitsa tunnel from Sofia in 30 minutes

The Civil Aviation Authority has registered the eighth heliport for the country's air ambulance service. It is located next to the Zheleznitsa tunnel of Struma Motorway.

Nearly BGN 3 billion have been invested in infrastructure projects under the Operational Programme on Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014—2020. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at the final information event on the achievements of the transport programme. The Minister stressed that thanks to the European co-financing Bulgaria has been implementing projects for 18 years, which put the country on the map of Europe in a new way.

The criteria for the procedure for the construction of charging stations for cars and trucks on the TEN-T network are ready. This was stated in Burgas by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov at a meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Transport Connectivity Programme. Methodology and criteria for the procedure, which is planned to be announced in November 2024, are to be approved during the meeting.

Since Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, 373 km of railway lines have been modernised, as well as 8 key railway stations in the country. This was said by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova during a meeting with Serbian media representatives, which took place today in the building of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. She pointed out that the benefits of Bulgaria's accession to the EU are indisputable and visible for all citizens and businesses.

Within the day, a plan for the reorganisation of the movement of trains travelling through Sofia and Sofia-North stations should be made. This was ordered by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting today with BDZ and NKZI in connection with the long delays of trains in Sofia in recent days.

We are already seeing hydrogen technology entering real life. I hope that charging stations for hydrogen cars will soon be built in Bulgaria. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov during the opening of the first hydrogen charging station in Bulgaria and the region.

Bulgaria and Georgia will now recognise each other's certificates for coastal navigation after an agreement was signed today in Sofia between the Executive Agency ‘Maritime Administration’ and the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia. This took place in the framework of a visit of a Georgian delegation led by Guram Guramishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.

The contract for the delivery of 7 double-decker trains has been signed

Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the management of the Polish company Stadler Polska Sp. z o.o  signed today the contract for the delivery of 7 double-decker trains, which will be purchased with Recovery and Sustainability Plan funds.

The new duty-free zone is built according to the most modern European and world standards. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova during the official opening of the largest commercial zone at Sofia Airport, Terminal 2.

Transport and infrastructure are most important for Ukraine, both in the war, which is now in its third year, and for the country's post-conflict reconstruction. This was the general opinion at the meeting of the Deputy Ministers of Transport and Communications Anna Natova and Dimitar Nedyalkov with the President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gennady Chizhikov.

Building 5G coverage on the highways connecting Bulgaria and Greece is important both for mobility and for improving digital services for the small municipalities along this corridor. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov at the demonstration of the first phase of the cross-border 5G SEAGUL project.

The construction of an open-air car park at Sofia Airport Terminal 2, which will provide 1000 new parking spaces, has started. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Anna Natova during the start of the construction works. She pointed out that once this project is completed, the long-awaited overhaul of the covered parking lot will begin.

We are completely renewing the fleet of the Executive Agency"Automobile Administration"with 80 new control vehicles. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a visit to the headquarters of the supplier and representative of the manufacturer, where the first equipped vehicle was presented to him. All the cars have now been delivered and their outfitting has begun. The contractor assured the minister that the vehicles will be fully completed by August this year when they will be ready for use.

Given the specificity and complexity of the rail rolling stock modernisation project, MTC is moving to a direct contracting process for the procurement of 35 single-deck multiple unit trains funded by the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan.