site.btaBulgaria to Introduce 34 New Trains from April; Full Modernization Expected by 2029, Says Transport Minister

From April, Bulgaria will begin rolling out new trains, with 34 new units expected to serve the country's main routes by the end of summer. The remaining new multiple-unit trains are scheduled for delivery by June 2027 under existing contracts, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov told Nova TV on Sunday.

Train renewal is the first step in a broader reform of the railway sector, aimed at improving comfort, punctuality and service quality.

Karadjov said more than 40 railway infrastructure repair projects are currently underway, with full modernization expected to be completed by 2029. He noted that the combination of new rolling stock, upgraded lines and a revised financing model will allow trains to run faster and arrive on schedule.

The outgoing minister stressed that the reform seeks to address chronic underfunding in the sector. The subsidy per train-kilometre is planned to increase by roughly 50%, from around EUR 6 now to nearly EUR 9 by 2027. This will cover not only operational costs but also investments in modernization, safety and improved maintenance.

Responding to criticism about the entry of a private operator into passenger rail services, Karadjov said the state will retain ownership of the rolling stock, with locomotives and carriages remaining state property. The goal is to create controlled competition under clearly defined public service contracts, with any potential profit capped and ticket prices not allowed to rise without ministerial approval.

The reform also includes provisions to increase railway workers' wages, with significant pay rises planned from 2027 to make the profession more attractive to younger people.

Karadjov also discussed the work of post offices handling the exchange of leva for euro, noting that over BGN 186 million has been exchanged and more than 133,000 citizens served by about 2,300 post offices nationwide, with no major problems reported.