The development of a new law that will unite rail and road passenger transport into a single system is in an advanced phase. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov during a discussion on the topic “Bulgaria towards affordable, competitive and sustainable mobility“. The event was attended by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bulgaria H.E. Irene Planck. The organizers of the forum are the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Deputy Minister Nedyalkov pointed out that the integration of rail and road passenger transport will create a more efficient and convenient transport system. This can be achieved by coordinating schedules and ensuring easy transfers between the two modes of transport. Integration could reduce congestion and improve accessibility to remote areas.
“With the adoption of the law, a common National Transport Scheme will be prepared, and local authorities must develop transport plans at the regional and municipal levels, which will necessarily be synchronized with the national strategy. This will ensure clear regulation of the planning and management of public transport in Bulgaria, which will guarantee equality between contracting authorities, operators and passengers“, noted Dimitar Nedyalkov.
The Deputy Minister explained that passengers will have guaranteed service along the entire route, regardless of how many times they need to change. For their part, carriers must be able to more effectively manage the fleet and their costs for it, depending on the number of passengers. The state, for its part, will better plan the costs of co-financing the service.