The State is exploring options to increase the transport of grain by rail, with potential volumes exceeding 2.3 million tonnes per year. This became clear at a meeting between the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Plamen Abrovski with representatives of the National Association of Grain Producers and the Association of Grain Traders. A representative of BDZ – Freight Services also took part in the meeting.
The participants discussed specific options for using rail transport to carry grain both in the short term and through investments over the longer term.
As an immediate measure, a review will be carried out of the railway stations that have facilities for loading and unloading grain. The information will be made available to producers and traders so that they can plan their transport operations more efficiently. The possibility of resuming operations at some small freight stations that are currently not in use will also be examined.
In the longer term, the development of intermodal terminals is envisaged, through which freight can be transferred from road to rail. This will create additional opportunities to combine the two modes of transport and to move large quantities of grain more efficiently.
“So far, the State has not invested enough in developing railway stations as logistics facilities. Creating intermodal capacity can benefit both the state railways and grain producers – BDZ – Freight Services will get more orders, and producers will have more options for selling their produce,” said Minister Georgi Peev.
