site.btaEUR 32 Mln Bulgarian Scheme for Rail Transport under Recovery, Resilience Facility Approved

The European Commission (EC) has approved, under EU State aid rules, an EUR 32 million (BGN 63 million) Bulgarian scheme to encourage freight and passenger transport to shift from road to rail, the EC said in a press release Monday. The scheme will be funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), following the European Commission's positive assessment of the Bulgarian National Recovery and Resilience Plan and its adoption by the Council.  

According to the press release, the aim of the scheme is to remove technical barriers to rail interoperability, and to promote the modal shift of transport from road to rail, which is a greener mode of transport. Under the scheme, the support will take the form of direct grants to rail companies to finance the integration of the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 into the existing rolling stock. 

As the ETCS is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), the scheme will support the implementation of the ERTMS, which enhances cross-border rail interoperability and improves the competitiveness of rail transport.

The scheme will run until  April 30, 2026.