site.btaTransport Minister Commissions Reports to Analyze Gaps in Rail Security Procedures

Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov told reporters here on Friday that he has commissioned two urgent reports analyzing gaps in the security system and in rail security procedures.

Karadzhov said: "There is an obvious need to pay special attention and carry out a thorough reform of the safety system of the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) and the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC)."

He added that a meeting on the matter will be held with representatives of the NRIC, BDZ, Executive Agency Railway Administration and the National Transport Investigation Board is scheduled for January 20. The goal will be to work out measures to prevent accidents in Bulgaria's rail transport.

Asked about potential personnel changes in the system, he said that his top priority is to establish a system that prevents accidents, while personnel matters are secondary.

Commenting on the two freight trains that collided near Sofia on Wednesday and killed two people, he said: "According to the information I got since I became a minister a few hours ago, the versions with failure or non-functioning of the technical devices are rejected for now. Rather, it is a question of non-compliance with safety procedures." He added that the security system would have prevented the accident, had it been implemented properly.

Earlier Friday, the Transport Ministry told BTA that BDZ Cargo Ltd general manager Hristiyan Krastev and NRIC director general Stoyan Stoyanov have tendered their resignations, which Karadzhov accepted. Chavdar Trendafilov will temporarily take over the management of BDZ Cargo, while Alexander Veckov will be the head of the NRIC, until new management is appointed.