site.btaExpected Increase in Number of Intermodal Trains Between Bulgaria and Turkiye

Responding to a question by BTA about the announced intention of Bulgaria and Turkiyе to increase transport capacity between them, Caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Hristo Aleksiev said on Wednesday they have agreed to increase the number of intermodal trains per day, with trucks loaded on them, which will pass from Bulgaria to Turkiye without moving through Bulgarian highways. 

Last year alone 50,000 TIRs were transported to Turkiye by rail through the intermodal container terminal in Plovdiv, which is a great achievement, Aleksiev elaborated. We want to increase the number of these trucks to the range of 150,000 - 200,000 per year. They should not go overland through Bulgarian territory and across the border, but be put on rail transport to keep the roads clear for citizens.

Aleksiev reminded that the railways are developing, meaning there are still some setbacks, but also some good results. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish State Railways said on their website that significant progress has been made in the ongoing negotiations between Turkiye and Bulgaria on facilitating border crossings and combining lines. The communiqué also stated that a delegation led by Hasan Pezyuk, Director General of the State Railways of the Republic of Turkiye (TCDD), met with Zlatin Krumov, Director General of the National Railway Infrastructure Company, at Kapakule station in Odrin/ Edirne.