site.btaTransport Minister Karadjov Discusses Railway Sector Development with Czech Counterpart in Prague

Bulgaria can adopt and learn from the successful Czech experience in liberalizing rail services, said Bulgarian Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadjov, during a meeting with his Czech counterpart Martin Kupka in Prague, the Ministry reported on Tuesday. The Ministers discussed the development of the rail sector, modernization, and future reforms in public transport systems in both countries.

Karadjov said that Bulgaria expects the 25 new trains to arrive from Czech Republic in Bulgaria on schedule, gradually from January to August 2026. “They are urgently needed, as our country is currently facing a serious shortage of rolling stock,” he noted.

The Bulgarian Minister stressed that the deadline for submitting proposals under the procedure for awarding rail transport contracts for the next 12 years is in two days. “By mid-December, we will know the selected operators. We have one year before the new contracts take effect, and during this period it is crucial to prepare for competition and for the challenges arising from liberalization,” he said.

Karadjov noted that over the next 12 months Bulgaria must develop and implement effective mechanisms to monitor the quality of rail services in an open market, including clear performance indicators and passenger comfort standards.

During the meeting, Karadjov presented the Bulgarian model for a unified ticketing system, included in the new Public Transport Act. “We will create unified legislation for all types of transport operating under a common national transport scheme, which is the foundation for fairer and more sustainable public transport,” he said. The Minister emphasized that due to fragmented or non-functioning legislation, over 700 settlements in Bulgaria currently lack public transport.

Minister Kupka presented the Czech model of rail management. In the Czech Republic, regional rail services are awarded and monitored by regional authorities, while the Ministry of Transport oversees long-distance trains. Key quality indicators include reducing delays and ensuring good connections between different modes of transport, he said.

Kupka explained that the Czech Republic has a unified ticketing system for all rail operators, but the organization of bus services remains a challenge, with 13 separate ticketing systems operating across 14 regions. He added that the Czech Republic ranks second in Europe in transport infrastructure investment as a share of GDP and continues to work on integrating all modes of transport.

During his visit to the Czech Republic, Karadjov also held meetings with the national rail operator (Ceske drahy) and representatives of private companies Leo Express and Arriva, which provide public rail services under contracts in the Czech Republic.