site.btaAbout EUR 1 Mln Collected in Tolls at Danube Bridge 2 in Both Directions in a Month

About EUR 1 Mln Collected in Tolls at Danube Bridge 2 in Both Directions in a Month


Vidin, Northwestern Bulgaria, October 24 (BTA) - The tolls
collected at the Danube Bridge 2 in both directions in a month
range between 850,000 euro and 1.25 million euro, BTA learned
from Engineer Hristo Monev, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory
Board of Danube Bridge 2 Vidin Calafat AD.

The bridge attracts a rather large cargo flow, said Monev.
Between June 2013 and September 2014, more than 500,000 vehicles
crossed the bridge. Data match the forecasts made by various
consultants over the years. The number of vehicles which crossed
the bridge in July, August and September 2014 increased by 25
to 30 per cent on year.

Lorries weighing over 12 tonnes account for 40 to 45 per cent of
the overall traffic. The summer saw an increase in car traffic
across the Danube Bridge 2.

Monev said lorry traffic across the Danube Bridge between Rousse
and Giurgiu had not decreased since the new bridge went into
operation in June 2013.

The current tolls in one direction are as follows: 6 euro for
passenger cars, 37 euro for lorries over 12 tonnes, 18 euro for
lighter lorries, and 25 euro for buses.

Since the tolls are set by the governments of Bulgaria and
Romania, a reduction in car tolls may be considered in the
future. Now they account for 5 to 10 per cent of the monthly
revenues from all passing vehicles, said Monev.

With monthly revenues of 1 million euro, 5 per cent are 50,000
euro on which VAT is charged in both directions. The toll per
car could be cut to 3 euro, the same as at the Rousse-Giurgiu
bridge, which would encourage more drivers to opt for the
Vidin-Calafat route.

The integrated toll collection system provides traffic breakdown
by registration plate. Bulgarian hauliers account for 60 to 65
per cent of lorries crossing the bridge in both directions,
followed by Polish hauliers with 12-14 per cent, Turkish
hauliers with 8-10 per cent. Romanian hauliers trail the table
with 5 to 6 per cent. A growing number of Turkish-registered
cars have been choosing this route in recent months.

Railway service across the bridge was launched in May. A new
passenger train will be launched between Sofia, Vidin and
Budapest in early winter, which will hopefully be used more than
the existing Vidin-Golentsi-Craiova route, said Monev. Few
passengers use this regional service: about 1,000 passengers
have travelled in both directions in the seven months since it
was launched. Likewise, just 17 freight trains have taken this
route.