Vladimir Mitev
At the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, a number of prestigious media in Bulgaria and Romania published information that a Ruse-Bucharest-Otopeni fast train is to be launched in spring 2024. The information originally came from an anonymous Facebook page, which posted regularly throughout 2023 about the launch of such a train line. However, it was not clear from these posts where that page got this information from, as there were no such official statements from Romanian railway companies or institutions. Nevertheless, the “news” spread like a virus on social media and many people in both countries believed it.
According to the latest version of the Ruse-Bucuresti-Otopeni fast train announcement, the operator of the line was to be the Romanian private passenger transport company Transferoviar Călători. Radio Bulgaria and Friendship Bridge have asked the company about this information, asking for clarification of the extent to which it is true. The company’s reply was received on 17 January 2024. Transferoviar Călători hints that it is “constantly exploring the possibilities of expanding the railway network”. It adds that its intentions for new railway lines cannot be disclosed at this early stage of the expansion of the railway network in Romania. The operation of a train on the Ruse – Henri Coanda Airport line requires “a concerted effort of both the Romanian and Bulgarian partners, all other elements of the actual implementation of the project, such as the cost of a ticket, the duration of a journey and the cost of that journey, should be determined by both partners”. “Also from this perspective, the disclosure of any information regarding such a project having a transnational character should be done by both partners”, concludes Transferoviar Călători’s reply.
We reproduce below the company’s full response:
“Hello,
Thank you for your interest in our company. One of the priorities of Transferoviar Călători is to respond to the needs of our customers, including from the perspective of expanding the transport network and establishing new accessible routes for our passengers. In order to achieve this goal, our company is constantly looking into the possibilities of expanding the rail network in order to offer passengers a sustainable transport alternative. However, for reasons of confidentiality, in the early stages of projects to expand the transport network/establish new rail routes, we are unable to disclose further information on these projects.
Such issues related to the actual implementation of transport network extension projects, such as intermediate stops on a particular route, are determined at a later stage of the project and not at an early stage. Even the frequency of trains is an element of detail to be determined by the operators implementing the rail project at a later stage of the project.
Also, given that the operation of a train on the Ruse – Henri Coanda Airport route presents a particular element, as it involves a concerted effort of both the Romanian and the Bulgarian partners, all other elements concerning the actual implementation of the project, such as the cost of a ticket, the duration of a journey and the cost of that journey, should be determined by both partners. Also from this perspective, the disclosure of any information on such a project having a transnational character should be done by both partners.
Thank you for your understanding.”
Photo: Bucharest North Station receives the high-speed train Ruse-Bucharest-Otopeni (source: Wikipedia Commons, Britchi Mirela, CC BY 2.0 DEED)
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