The new Public Transport Act is ready. Next week we will begin discussing the texts together with the National Association of Municipalities. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov during today's meeting with mayors from municipalities in the Ruse region, organised by the regional governor Dragomir Draganov.
"We agreed with the mayors that we will first provide the draft act to the association of municipalities, as well as to all professional organisations. We will discuss it, and only after we have agreed on all issues will we submit the document to the Council of Ministers and then to the National Assembly," said Minister Karadzhov.
The new act envisages the creation of a National Transport Scheme, which will be based on real passenger flow data. Rail transport will have a leading role, and bus line schedules will be coordinated with railway timetables. The other key element is the introduction of a single electronic ticket, which will be valid for bus, train, and urban transport in the cities included in the integrated system.
"We are obliged to provide convenient public transport for all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of how small and remote the settlement they live in is. The principle of a minimum of three services per day – morning, noon, and evening – will be introduced, and additional lines will be provided during periods of higher demand," Karadzhov pointed out.
Current data shows that in small settlements, there is an increasing lack of transport operators willing to service the bus lines, the reason being low occupancy and a lack of economic interest. "This is now a widespread phenomenon and shows a defect in the current system," stressed Minister Karadzhov.
The reform is planned for a three-year period, starting from 1 January 2026. It is expected that its implementation will guarantee sufficient and convenient transport services throughout the country, with a central role for railway transport.
