Draft Conditions and Procedure for the Award of Public Passenger Transport Services by Rail

The Ministry of Transport and Communications will conduct a public consultation with interested stakeholders regarding the Draft Conditions and Procedure for the Award of Public Passenger Transport Services by Rail

The procedure for selecting railway passenger transport operators will be carried out in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road, and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 1191/69 and (EEC) No 1107/70 

The provision of passenger rail transport services will be entrusted by the state through long-term contracts that will align with established European best practices.

It is envisaged that the services will be awarded on a regional basis, divided into three lots: Western, Northern, and Southern.. Each lot will include both main and secondary railway lines and will be operated from a depot located within the respective territory/region. The lots are illustrated in the maps attached to the Draft.

Contract execution shall be ensured through the use of own and/or leased rolling stock, as well as rolling stock provided by the state. Operators awarded individual lots will be required to coordinate their transport operations through a Unified Train Timetable, which will be developed by the state in consultation with municipal and regional authorities. Contractors will also be obligated to ensure interoperability of their ticketing systems. 

In accordance with Article 123, paragraph 1, item 7 of the Labour Code, the employment relationships of workers and employees currently employed by the existing operator shall not be terminated but shall be maintained and transferred to the new employer—the new provider of the public transport service.

The contracts are planned for a duration of 12 (twelve ) years, including a one-year mobilisation period. 

The Ministry of Transport and Communications intends to launch the procurement procedure by the end of July 2025. Participants will be able to submit bids until 30 October 2025. Contracts with the selected operators will be concluded by 31 December 2025, with service under the new contracts set to commence on 13 December 2026.