Bulgaria is experiencing an unprecedented transport crisis related to a critical shortage of railway carriages, which seriously complicates passenger transportation. The official position was presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov during parliamentary control on Friday.
According to the ministerial statement, the most problematic routes with short destinations are alternatively served by modern air-conditioned buses due to the systemic shortage of train compositions. Experts define the situation as a direct result of ineffective management by the previous leadership.
During his parliamentary speech, Karadjov detailed the challenges facing rail transport. The member of parliament from the "Revival" party, Ivelin Parvanov, raised sharp questions about ticket sales and passenger seat allocation.
The minister pointed out a key problem of discrepancy between sold tickets and the actual capacity of carriages. A specific example was the practice of selling tickets for eight-seat compartments, which are subsequently replaced with six-seat carriages, creating additional difficulties for travelers.
To improve passenger service, a 30-day advance ticket sales system was introduced for high-speed trains during the summer season. This should allow citizens to calmly plan their trips and secure transportation in a timely manner.
The long-term solution, according to the minister, lies in purchasing new rolling stock that can adequately respond to the growing transport needs of the population.