Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania to Launch Direct Passenger Rail Service in June
Ruse, The Gulf Observer: Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania have agreed to launch direct passenger train services linking the three countries starting in June, marking a significant step toward enhancing regional connectivity and cooperation.
The agreement on key operational parameters was reached during a trilateral meeting held in the Danube city of Ruse. The meeting was attended by Bulgaria’s Deputy Transport Minister Murad Turk, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Oleksii Balesta, as well as representatives of national railway companies from all three countries and officials from Border Police in Ruse.
The new rail service will initially operate during the summer months—June, July, and August—with daily routes running between Kyiv, Bucharest, Ruse, and Varna, and back. Once launched, it will rank among the longest passenger rail routes in Europe.
Authorities plan to monitor passenger demand during the first three months of operation, with the possibility of extending the service year-round if it proves successful.
Deputy Minister Murad Turk emphasized that the new rail link would significantly improve transport connectivity and logistics routes across Eastern and Southeastern Europe. He noted that the initiative is expected to boost tourism, strengthen cultural and social ties, and promote broader economic cooperation among the participating countries.
While ticket pricing details are yet to be finalized, further discussions are expected in upcoming coordination meetings.
Bulgarian railway authorities, including the Railway Administration Executive Agency, BDZ-Passenger Transport Ltd., and the National Railway Infrastructure Company, have confirmed their technical readiness and operational capacity to support the service.
The development follows earlier discussions between Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba and Bulgaria’s Transport and Communications Minister Korman Ismailov in Kyiv on March 30, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to establishing the cross-border rail link via Romania.
