“The railway transport is a crucial element of the National Transport System and its development for the integration to the European systems impacts significantly the overall development of the Economy of Republic of Bulgaria“. With these words the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Hristo Alexiev opened a round table with topic “The challenges to the Bulgarian railways for overcoming the crisis – management and development”. The event has taken place today in the Tarde Union Home of the Transport Worker, Sofia.
Minister Hristo Alexiev noted that the railway passenger transport had significant potential for development, which to great extent depended on the modernization of the railway network, the rolling stock and the improving of the national railway undertaking management.
Later in front journalists, Minister Alexiev stated that only for two weeks the performance of the Train Operation Schedule improved with over 20 %. That was due to the measures, which the new BDZ Management undertook through a better organization of the rolling stock. Moreover, he added that was achieved without additional finance resource.
To a question regarding the obligations of BDZ, Minister Hristo Alexiev answered that he was considering an option for refinancing, as at the present stage, the penalty interest under the present loan has been 8 %. He was explicit that was inadmissible and led to an additional loss of finance resource.
In the end of his participation in the round table, Minister Alexiev said he has been delighted to meet today in that hall all the railway elite of all generations. “I hope clear and specific measures will derive from the todays forum, however in order the reform to be realized, the measures must be sustainable”, added Minister Hristo Alexiev.