BDZ and Ivconi Express reach agreement on railway operations

Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) and private carrier Ivconi Express have reached a consensus regarding their joint railway operations scheduled to begin after December 13, 2026. The agreement covers the use of rolling stock, the leasing of buildings and tracks, schedule coordination, and mutual ticket sales.

Following a meeting with Transport Minister Georgi Peev, representatives from the National Company Railway Infrastructure and the Executive Agency Railway Administration also participated in the discussions. A significant focus of the negotiations was the protection of labor and social rights for railway employees transitioning to the private operator. Minister Peev emphasized that working conditions, social benefits, and collective bargaining rights must be preserved long-term, including existing perks such as free travel for railway workers.

Next steps include technical and organizational refinements, compatibility testing for ticketing systems, and meetings between BDZ management and labor unions to finalize personnel guarantees.