site.btaTransport Minister Gvozdeikov, German Ambassador Plank Discuss Bulgaria Rail Transport Modernization

We are looking for opportunities to purchase or lease new rolling stock at short notice, and have also sent enquiries to several companies in Germany, Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov said during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bulgaria, Irene Plank, the Ministry reported on Friday.

The inumbent's ambition is to launch rapidly the long-awaited modernisation of rail transport, which has only been talked about for a decade, but there has been no significant progress," Gvozdeikov said. He presented the steps that have been taken so far and stressed the importance of the results of the market survey, for which responses from several companies are still awaited. Ambassador Planck stressed that Germany is ready to assist Bulgaria in the process of modernising this transport.

The sides also discussed the transfer of the management of the Rosenets oil port terminal to the state after the termination of the concession on August 15, 2023. Minister Gvozdeikov explained that an agreement with Lukoil will be signed soon and there is no expected interruption in the terminal's operation.

Regarding the solidarity corridors, Minister Gvozdeikov pointed out that, given the situation in the Black Sea, an alternative route for the supply of Ukrainian grain passing through Bulgaria is being worked on. The Ukraine-Romania-Bulgaria-Alexandroupolis land corridor was discussed at a meeting between the prime ministers of Bulgaria and Greece, and the Greek side supported this initiative, the transport minister said.

Ambassador Planck confirmed that Germany supports Bulgaria's accession to Schengen. Gvozdeikov pointed out that freight traffic problems at the borders, as well as the migrant wave, will be overcome much more easily after Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.