At the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova, an open discussion was held on the development of railway transport. It was attended by representatives of BDZ and NKŽI, trade union organizations, railway experts and media. At a meeting with BDZ management on Thursday, the Minister of Transport requested swift action to ensure the safety of employees and passengers, FOCUS reported.
"In order to find a solution to the problems in railway transport, we must first point out the problem," said Minister Krasimira Stoyanova at the beginning of the meeting. "I will be uncompromising and decisive regarding any incompetence in the Bulgarian railways system. It is unacceptable for passengers to travel not only in unclean trains, but also in dangerous ones," she categorically stated. "We must speak openly about the railways," the minister emphasized. According to her, more efforts are needed from the employees related to the operation of the railway transport and control and initiative on the part of the managing bodies of the railway.
The BDZ reported that daily checks at the depots and extraordinary briefings of the staff began yesterday. The supply of video recorders in the locomotives and motor trains is another measure that is already being worked on and is about to be implemented.
The executive director of "Holding BDZ" EAD Georgi Drumev pointed out that in one month about 17,000 trains run in our country, for which 129 locomotives are needed. "49 of these locomotives are over 40 years old," noted Drumev. He added that most of the accidents since the beginning of the year have occurred with such locomotives, and control over their technical maintenance will be seriously strengthened. "We have analyzed the reasons that led to the incidents and have taken measures to prevent more such incidents,", the BDZ director also said. According to him, the necessary technical means have already been purchased (water jets, steam jets and thermal cameras) with which rolling stock malfunctions can be detected and eliminated in a timely manner.
"The infrastructure is not what it should be. "Passenger transport is the face of railway transport", emphasized the general director of Railway Infrastructure. Stoyan Stoyanov. He added that work is being done to increase speeds in certain sections of the railway network, and that by the end of September there will be a prepared plan with the most urgent measures related to the railway infrastructure in the country.
Railway experts expressed the opinion that it is important to improve the dialogue between "BDZ – Passenger transport" EOOD and NKŽI, as well as to speed up the implementation of railway infrastructure projects. The trade union organizations emphasized the need for experts in the operational staff of the railways and strict control in carrying out the repairs and maintenance of the rolling stock.