site.btaBDZ, Deutsche Bahn to Sign Contract for Delivery of 91 Railcars Within Days

A contract between the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) and Deutsche Bahn for the delivery of 91 passenger railcars will be signed within days. This transpired during a meeting between Caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Korman Ismailov and German Ambassador Irene Plank, Ismailov’s ministry said.

According to the statement, Minister Ismailov said that the railway system in the country is experiencing a shortage of passenger railcars, while part of BDZ’s rolling stock is outdated. He added that BDZ is participating in a tender for the purchase of new rolling stock in order to provide more reliable and comfortable travel conditions for citizens.

The ministry also noted that during the meeting the parties discussed a draft Public Transport Act, which is currently considered by the parliamentary transport committee. Ismailov said that numerous proposals from stakeholders had been received and would be carefully reviewed.

Ambassador Plank said that this law is extremely important and would be a major step for the development of public transport in Bulgaria. She expressed support for the development of Transport Corridor VIII, noting that the project has strategic significance not only for the region but for the entire European Union, and that Germany will work to accelerate the process.

Earlier on Thursday, the parliamentary committee discussed the Public Transport Bill, which is related to introducing an integrated approach to planning, managing, and financing transport services in the country.

After the discussion, committee chair Kiril Dobrev (BSP – United Left) said that due to a lack of quorum voting the bill had been postponed for next week.