The condition of „BDZ Freight Transport“ and „BDZ Passenger Transport“ is worrisome, commented Deputy Transport Minister Krasimir Papukchiiski. He revealed to „BNR“ that non-compliance with the schedule, generated delays and unmaintained hygiene were found in passenger transport. In the case of cargo transportation, there was non-compliance with the concluded contracts, which caused a delay in the delivery period.
“The company does not have the capacity and is not ready to operate at the intermodal cargo terminals, and there is also an outflow of shippers”, the deputy minister said.
BDZ’s state of affairs has come to this due to the understated control by the company’s management over the execution of rolling stock repair contracts, Papukchiiski pointed out.
Pamukchiiski also commented that at „BDZ Passenger Transport“ the compliance with the schedule from the beginning of this year until now showed its „extremely alarming condition“. According to him, since the beginning of 2022, 5,700 fast passenger trains have been canceled, which was equivalent to 12 days without train movement in the country.
Due to the current condition of the locomotives and wagons, a delay of around 1000-1800 minutes was accumulated every day.
Deputy Minister Papukchiiski announced that 7 out of a total of 15 new „Siemens Smartron“ locomotives were stopped from running. Another one is about to be stopped. In January, a 17-year-old Siemens Desiro was cut up for scrap, despite having a useful life of between 30 and 35 years. Papukchiyski pointed out:
„This is the result of the non-exercise of control and careless attitude on the part of BDZ.”
“I have ordered the management of BDZ to take immediate measures to urgently repair locomotives and wagons so that the train schedule is covered 100%. I found that a large part of the employees’ rest rooms are not maintained and are in a very bad condition, for which I have also ordered urgent actions, which must be carried out by the end of September”s, said Deputy Minister Papukchiiski categorically.
„BDZ Holding“ wants to have a consultation in order to find out how appropriate the merger of the companies into the national company „Bulgarian State Railways“ is. This is also confirmed by a document received from BDZ, in which it is proposed to delay the infusion despite the previous minister’s order.
