site.btaTransport Minister Calls for Urgent Safety Measures Following Railway Accident

Caretaker Transport Minister Krasimira Stoyanova called for immediate measures and actions from all authorities responsible for railway transport safety, her Ministry reported on Tuesday.

On Monday, the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) reported that two railway workers were killed in an accident between the Krivodol and Boychinovtsi stations in Northwestern Bulgaria while carrying out planned repair works. A third person was injured in the incident, which occurred around 10:30 am.

The Railway Administration Executive Agency will begin an emergency inspection of NRIC's regional operational divisions. The inspection will focus on how safety management rules and procedures are applied and how responsibilities are assigned during construction and repair works. The Executive Agency will also analyze the implementation of previous recommendations. The results will be presented by December 27.  

NRIC's director general has issued an order banning maintenance work on railway infrastructure between stations while the tracks are open for train movement. Video and audio recording devices will be installed in all workrooms where train movement is controlled. An emergency audit of all railway infrastructure, including heavy machinery, buildings, and documentation in train stations, will also begin.