Bulgarian state railways BDZ plans to launch a tender for a contract to buy new trains, mainly to be used on the route Sofia – Bourgas.
It is estimated that the cost will be 210 million leva (EUR 107 million), paid over seven years, BDZ chief executive Vladimir Vladimirov was quoted as telling local media.
The Sofia-Bourgas line is being upgraded to handle trains capable of reaching speeds up to 160 km/h.
The money is provided for in the upcoming long-term programme for the financial rehabilitation of the state railways, due out in mid-February and to be put to the cabinet and Parliament for approval. The funding will come from the budget as a capital transfer.
The financial rehabilitation plan was ordered two weeks ago, as BDZ was plunged into controversy over cutbacks of services, withdrawing large numbers of trains that had low passenger numbers and were running at a loss.
Source: www.balkaneu.com photo: seebulgaria.bg
Share on:
