Outgoing Transport Minister Karadjov Signs 12-Year Passenger Rail Transport Contracts 2026

Balgarianovinite.com Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov signed 12-year contracts with the selected contractors under the procedure for awarding passenger rail transport services. The ceremony took place at the Ministry of Transport and Communications here on Wednesday.
Following an open and competitive procedure, the Western region, which accounts for around 75% of all rail transport in Bulgaria, has been awarded to BDZ Passenger Services Ltd. For the other two regions – Northern (14% of services) and Southern (11%) – Ivkoni Express EAD ranked first in the procedure.
“For the first time in Bulgaria there will be more than one railway operator providing passenger services. And for the first time, a private operator will carry passengers on the national rail network following an open, non-discriminatory and transparent procedure,” Karadzhov said.
He stressed that by signing the 12-year contracts, the state is effectively completing a key reform set out in the Recovery and Resilience Plan. According to him, failure to meet commitments on time would have risked not only delays but also the loss of part of the funds earmarked for investment in rolling stock.
The Minister noted that the procedure was carried out in full coordination with the European Commission and following public consultations with trade unions, transport operators, representatives of academia and non-governmental organizations. “Instead of a formal decision that could later be challenged, we built a model that was pre-agreed and compatible with European rules,” he said.
Karadjov was adamant that the state is not withdrawing from the sector. “The state retains its key role – it defines the scope of the service, the quality standards, exercises oversight and provides the bulk of the funding,” he said. The rolling stock purchased with EU funds, as well as that yet to be acquired, will remain state property and will be made available to operators for the duration of the contracts, after which it must be returned in the agreed condition.
By December 13 this year, the operators must prepare their systems, arrange the allocation and maintenance of rolling stock, and ensure a smooth transition to the new model. “People’s expectations are clear – higher quality, more punctual trains and more comfortable travel,” Karadjov said.
He also highlighted the social dimension of the reform. The procedure provides for a total of 813 BDZ employees to transfer to Ivkoni Express while retaining their current working conditions. “These are not just staff positions, but professionals with experience and expertise. The stability of the system depends on them,” the Minister emphasized. 
According to Karadjov, two further steps remain to complete the reform – the adoption of the Public Transport Act by Parliament and the approval of the technical specification for the unified electronic ticketing system.
“The signed contracts are not a technical formality, but a key structural reform. This is a difficult but inevitable step, without which the modernization of rail transport in Bulgaria cannot take place,” Karadjov said. Outgoing Transport Minister Karadjov Signs 12-Year Passenger Rail Transport Contracts 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-11 13:42:05 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law