The difficult state of railway transport in Bulgaria
During a parliamentary blitz control, it became clear that BDZ has only 266 passenger carriages available, while 285 are needed. Of these, only 113 are equipped with air conditioning, which creates serious discomfort for passengers during the summer season.
"The problems in the railways are systemic and require a long-term modernization program, not just personnel changes," stated Transport Minister Georgi Peev.
Main challenges:
- Outdated stock: Over 50% of the carriages were manufactured between the 70s and 80s of the last century.
- Air conditioning: Existing systems are designed for temperatures up to 35 degrees and often fail during extreme heat.
- Modernization: New trains are expected no earlier than September after passing all certification procedures.
Minister Peev emphasized that a lasting solution to the problems requires large-scale investments in both new equipment and infrastructure, as well as in working conditions for railway employees.