Bucharest public transport faces debt crisis and service threats

Public transportation in Bucharest faces significant financial instability, threatening the continuity of essential services. The Bucharest Transport Company (STB) is facing massive debt, with liabilities reaching approximately 1.75 billion lei by the end of 2025, including 1.5 billion lei owed to ANAF. The Bucharest City Hall reported an exposure of roughly 3 billion lei, including accumulated penalties, by July 2026.

Simultaneously, the Metrorex subway system faces a potential shutdown in September 2026. The Free Metro Union (USLM) warned that operations could cease if the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure fails to pay required compensations. Union representatives argue that the subway's financial difficulties stem from the government's failure to provide timely payments for public service contracts rather than inherent mismanagement.

Experts note that while insolvency proceedings can serve as a legal tool for debt restructuring, they do not address the underlying structural issues. The current model relies on state compensation to cover the gap between ticket revenue and the actual cost of maintaining routes, frequencies, and tariffs set by authorities.