Action 3.1: Mapping ongoing public and private investments

Transcription

1 Action 3.1: Mapping ongoing public and private investments

2 ACTION 3.1: MAPPING ONGOING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS 1 1 DESCRIPTION OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE HUB 2 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE LEGAL BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN TRANSPORT PROVISION Legal Framework Bus Transport The Automobile Transport Act Rail Transport -- Rail Transport Act Air Transport -- Civilian Aviation Act 17 3 MAPPING OF ONGOING AND PLANNED INVESTMENTS Strategic Outlook Air Transport Rail Transport Roads List of Concessions Objects given on Concession Objects in open procedure for concession, carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Objects which the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications is preparing to offer on concession Potential objects which the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications will prepare to offer on concession Operational Programme on Transport in Bulgaria General Information Priority Axes Indicative List of Priority Projects 30 1

3 1 Description of transportation services provided in the hub Infrastructure Status Quo The information presented in the following section of this document offers a well-rounded picture of the status quo in terms of transport infrastructure. For the sake of clarity a group of cities have been selected based on their population, i.e. the largest ten cities in Bulgaria. Those, on the one hand, also have the administrative and financial capacity to participate in the implementation of plans and guidelines resulting from the current project and/or recapitulate on the effects of project activities. Simultaneously, those have the prospects of attracting tourism and business oriented visitors. The information is organized in sub-sections relevant to the different types of transport and finally their interconnectivity. NOTE: The information regarding rail transport lines is very limited within the text. This is due to the assumption that visual information under the form of maps will present a more articulate overall idea of the rail network. *Please, see last section for comprehensive maps of the National Rail System and its participation in international lines. 1. Sofia General Info Important to note for the aims of the current project is the overall capacity of railway services in the capital city. For instance, for the period January-July 2004 the number of passengers that took advantage of the services at the Sofia Central Rail Station is , which constitutes 11,8% of the total number of passengers for the entire rail network on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Daily on average passengers use the facilities of the biggest railway station in Bulgaria. 166 trains pass through the station 84 arriving and 82 departing. The station is accessible for people with disabilities, including a special team ready to offer assistance when requested. Bus Transport Sofia has one primary and four secondary bus stations. The primary bus station is Central Bus Station Sofia. On average 47 to 50 buses leave from the station simultaneously for destinations both within the country and abroad, as there are 50 bus sectors. The four secondary bus stations include: Bus Station South, Bus Station West-Ovcha Kupel, Bus Station North, Bus Station Poduyane. They service predominantly lines that connect with the smaller towns and villages in the country. 2

4 The Bus Station Sofia-Poduyane is the second largest bus station in Sofia. It services a large number of lines with some of the most important being to the following destinations:botevgrad, Etropole, Elin Pelin, Hisar, Gaytaevo, Gorna Malina, Pravec, Baylovo, Trojan, Koprivshtica, Makotsevo, D. Kamartsi, Ihtiman, G. Malina, Negushevo, Osoitsa, Sarantsi, Makotsevo, Cekanevo, D. Kamartsi, Sturgel, G. Kamartsi, Apriltsi. Bus Station South services destinations (smaller towns and villages) to the South, South-East and East: Pazardzik, Peshtera, Batak, Dospat, Samokov, Velingrad, Panagurishte, Devin, Pernik, Novi Han. Bus Station North services lines such as: Sofia-Kostinbrod-Petrych-Slivnitsa; Sofia-Kostinbrod-Godech; Sofia-Vlado Trichkov-Svoge; Sofia-Dragoman-Godech; Sofia-Slivnitsa-Rakita-Breznik; Sofia-Bozhurishte-Zlatusha-Babitsa- Breznik; Sofia-Slivnitsa-Dragoman-Gaber. Bus Station West-Ovcha Kupel services routes to destinations such as Pernik, Zemen, Kjustendil, etc. Rail Transport Sofia is the most important railway hub and facilitates the connection with all parts of the country in 5 directions. There are 8 stations (Central, Smirnenski, Sofia-North, Iliyantsi, Poduyane, Iskar, Zaharna Fabrika, Gorna Bania) and two stops (Obelya and Bakurena Fabrika). Air Transport Sofia Airport is the largest airport in Bulgaria with a variety of regular international flights throughout the year. There are internal flights to Bourgas and Varna. Interconnectivity Sofia Central Bus Station is well connected with almost all neighborhoods in Sofia by means of public transport. There is a metro station at the station entrance which is part of the second underground diagonal route. Bus Station South is located in immediate proximity to underground station Julio Curie. The connectivity of the Central Railway Station is guaranteed by 14 bus lines and 6 tram lines and by an underground station from the second diagonal metro route. Sofia Airport is connected to the city center by two bus lines (84 and 384). The metro stations Orlov Most and SU Kliment Ohridski provide convenient connections with the underground and other public bus and tram lines. Sofia Airport provides free of charge transport between Terminals 1 and Plovdiv General Notes Plovdiv s geographical position turns it into an international transport hub. Three of the ten Pan-European corridors run through or near the city: Corridor IV (Dresden-Bucharest-Sofia-Plovdiv-Varna/Bourgas), Corridor X (Salzburg-Belgrade-Plovdiv-Istanbul) and Corridor VIII (Durres-Sofia-Plovdiv-Varna/Bourgas). 3

5 The city is the major road and railway hub in southern Bulgaria: Trakia Highway passes only 5 km to the north. First-class roads connect the city to Asenovgrad 20km, Pazardzhik- 38km, Smolyan 89km, Haskovo 80km, Stara Zagora 93km, Bourgas 272 km, Rousse 280km, Varna 396km. Plovdiv has a well-developed public transport system with around 40 bus and trolley lines. Bus Transport Plovdiv has three bus stations: Bus Station Plovdiv-South, Bus Station Plovdiv-Rodopi and Bus Station Plovdiv- North. Bus Station Plovdiv North services around 40 routes to places north from the city. Some of the most important administrative centers with which Bus Station Plovdiv South offers connections are: Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Dupnitsa, Kazanluk, Kjustendil. Apart from those lines it also services lines to the following destinations: Rakovski, Rozovets, Bratya Daskalovi, Bourgas, Zlatosel, Vurben, Choba, Svezhen, Dragomir, Pravishte, Bolyarino, Trilistnik, Panagyurishte, Golyam Chardak, Nedelino, Koprivshtitsa, Ruzhevo, Tojan, Sevlievo, Sunny Beach, Bansko, Dupnitsa. From Bus Station Plovdiv Rodopi depart buses on 38 routes to other administrative centers and populated areas predominantly in the mountainous region. Rail Transport There are three rail stations in Plovdiv: Plovdiv Central Rail Station, Rail Station Trakia and Rail Station Filipovo, and one freight rail station. Trains run to Sofia, Panagyurishte, Karlovo, Peshtera, Stara Zagora, Dimitrvgrad and Asenovgrad among others. Air Transport The Plovdiv International Airport is situated 12km to the South-East of Plovdiv, near the village of Krumovo on the main road from Plovdiv to Aseonvgrad. It operates mainly charter flights to European cities and internal flights to Sofia. There is a number of small airports in the city surroundings, e.g. the Graf Ignatievo Air Base to the North. Interconnectivity Bus Station Plovdiv-North is located right next to Rail Station Filipovo. Bus Stations Plovdiv-South is located near the Plovdiv central rail and bus stations. The Mavrudovo Rail Station on the line Plovdiv-Asenovgrad is situated three-kilometers away from the Plovdiv International Airport. 4

6 3. Varna Bus Transport Central Bus Station Varna offers multiple lines to both internal and international destinations. Some of the internal lines operated from the station reach the following destinations in Bulgaria: Bourgas, Plovdiv, Sofia, Rousse, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kavarna, Montana, Svishtov, Sliven, Silistra, Shoumen, Yambol, etc. Destinations abroad include: London, Athens, Odessa, Istanbul, Bucharest-Burno-Prague. Apart from those lines, the bus station offers buses to smaller towns and villages near the city of Varna. Private Bus Station Mladost situated across the street from the central bus station connects the bus services of both stations to the airport (bus line 409) and to the rail station (bus line 13). The lines departing from this station cover almost all sea resorts, as well as the towns and villages in Varna, Shoumen and Targovishte municipalities. Rail Transport Rail Station Varna ranks among the key stations in Bulgaria, being an end destination at the same time. It connects the city to Sofia, separate lines run to Karnobat, Rousse, Plovdiv, Pleven, Shoumen and others. Air Transport West of Varna is situated Varna Airport, the third most important airport in Bulgaria. It works with 65 Bulgarian and foreign operators, servicing regular and charter lines to more than 35 countries. It is one of the international airports in Bulgaria that open all year round. During the winter months seven regular lines are operative with 28% of passengers traveling for business purposes. Interconnectivity Several types of transportation connect the Varna Airport to the city: bus lines (409, 8, 9, 109), taxi services and rental cars. The Airport Bus stop to Varna and nearby resorts is located just outside Terminal 1. Bus 409: Route: Varna Airport Mall of Varna Varna Couch Station City Center (the Cathedral) Golden Sands Resort Bus transport within the city limits is available between the hours of 5:45 and 23:00 H, running every 15 minutes. Tickets are available from the bus fare-collector. Bus 13 connects Rail Station Varna with Central Bus Station Varna and the private bus station Mladost. The rail station s connected to Varna Airport through bus 13 (one needs to get off in the second stop and catch bus 409). 5

7 4. Bourgas Bus Transport Bus services to the following destinations are offered from Bus Station South: Sunny Beach, Nesebar, Sozopol, Kiten, Tsarevo, Varna, Pomorie, Ravna Gora, Ruse, Novo Panicharevo, Primorsko, Ahtopol, Sinemorets, Rezovo, Sofia. Bus Station West offers lines to the following: Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna Oryachovitsa, Svishtov, Belene, Bourgas, Stara Zagora, Sofia, Vratsa, Vidin, Sliven, Sredets, Popovo, Elhovo, Kotel, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzali, Omurtag, Kazanluk, Gabrovo, Lovech, Chirpan, Plovdiv, Shoumen, Razgrad, Topolovgrad, Svilengrad, Karnobat, Topolovgrad, Sredets, Yambol, Varna. Rail Transport Rail Station Bourgas is among the key rail stations in Bulgaria, simultaneously being an end destination and running in three main directions, i.e. to Sofia, to the whole of South Bulgaria and Rousse and Pleven. Air Transport Bourgas Airport is an international Airport in South-East Bulgaria. It is located in the Bourgas neighborhood Sarafovo, 10 km away from the center of Bourgas. The airport services the second largest flow of air passengers in the country after Sofia Airport. It is the airport with the highest number of clear sunny days in Europe and has the third longest runway (3200m) on the Balkan Peninsula after the expansion of Sofia and Athens airports. The runways are durable and long enough to service any aircraft used both in civilian and military air travel. Regular internal lines connect the airport with Sofia. Regular international lines link it to London, Vienna, Budapest and Moscow. Interconnectivity Bourgas Airport is connected to Bus Station South trough bus services (line 15). The rail station is located within walking distance from Bus Station South which offers lines to all points along the South Black Sea coast, e.g. Varna, Bourgas Airport, etc. 5. Rousse General Notes The city is situated on one of the most important transport arteries of Europe the Danube. It is also part of other significant transport corridors (Transport Corridor 7: Mein Rein Danube; Transport Corridor 9: Helsinki Kiev/Moscow Odessa/Kishinau Bucharest Rousse Stara Zagora Dedeagach on the White Sea) and European roads (E70 and E85). The sole bridge across the Danube connecting the city to the Romanian city Gurgevo is located here. Bus Transport 6

8 Bus Station Rousse-South serves internal lines to the following destinations: Bourgas, Byala, Seslav, Tsar Samouil; Baniska/Pomen, Bisertsi, Judelnik, Shoumen, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Gorno Ablanovo, Popovo, Momtchilgrad, Haskovo, Dobrich, Isperih, Kacelovo, Kost. Svalenik, Sofia, Pleven, Omurtag, Pirogovo/Mechka, Ryahovo/Zvunartsi, Svishtov, Silistra, Suhodol, Trustenik. It operates the following international line: Rousse Vienna Munich Stuttgard Frankfurt Koeln Brussels Rotterdam Hague Amsterdam; as well as lines to the following European cities: Athens, Bucharest, Istanbul, Madrid, Prague. Bus Station Rousse East offers services connecting the smaller towns and villages in the Rousse region to the city. Rail Transport There are two passenger rail stations in the city and three for cargo. The two rail stations are Central Rail Station Rousse and Rail Station Razpredelitelna Rousse. Air Transport The civilian airport in Shturkelovo village is located 17 km away from the city. Although it is non-functional currently, it could be adapted for regular internal and international flights, both passenger and freight. Interconnectivity The Central Rail Station Rousse is located in immediate proximity to the Bus Station Rousse-South, whereas the Rail Station Razpredelitelna Rousse is nearby Bus Station Rousse-East. Hence, no need for other interconnecting transport services arises. 6. Stara Zagora Bus Transport Bus Station Stara Zagora is located in the central part of the city, not far away from the Central Rail Station. It services both internal and international bus lines. Internal lines reach the following destinations: Bourgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Gurkovo, Galabovo, Dimitrovgrad, Elhovo, Ivaylovgrad, Kazanluk, Kotel, Krumovgrad, Kardzali, Momchilgrad, Mugliz, Nova Zagora, Nikolaevo, Omurtag, Pavel Banya, Pleven, Plovdiv, Parvomay, Radnevo, Razgrad, Rousse, St. Vlas, Svilengrad, Sliven, Sunny Beach, Sofia, Tvurditsa, Topolovgrad, Harmanli, Haskovo, Chirpan, Shoumen. International bus lines reach Athens and Thessaloniki in Greece. Rail Transport The Stara Zagora Train Station is part of Main Railway Line 8 (Stara Zagora-Yambol-Bourgas). Another important connection is Stara Zagora-Dimitrovgrad-Podkova. 7

9 Air Transport Stara Zagora Airport is situated near the Kolio Ganchev suburb, located about 9 km south from the city center of Stara Zagora. Due to its good location (near the Shipka Top, Stara Zagora Spa Resort and Sevtopolis) the airport is mainly attractive for charter flights. Stara Zagora Airport is awaiting concession procedure and is currently nonoperational. Interconnectivity The rail and bus stations are situated within walking distance, approximately a five-minute journey. 7. Pleven General Notes The first class international road E83 (Sofia-Rousse-Bucharest) passes to the North from Pleven. Highway A-2 Hemus spanning from Sofia to Varna is planned to pass 15km south from the city. Pleven is an important rail point in the context of the international rail line Sofia-Bucharest-Kiev-Moscow, as well as a main station within the internal rail infrastructure servicing the direction Sofia-Varna. The three main road arteries of the city (towards Sofia, Rousse and Lovech) constitute parts of highways. The city transport with Pleven is almost entirely consisted of tram services. Bus Transport Bus Station Pleven is the only bus station in the city. It services lines both the main administrative centers in the country and smaller towns and villages. The main routes reach the following destinations: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Bourgas, Rousse, Stara Zagora. Lines to smaller populated areas run to the following destinations: Apriltsi, Botevgrad, Etropole, Gabrovo, Kozlodui, Levski, Lovech, Lom, Sevlievo, Svishtov, Silistra, Blagoevgrad, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Kardzali, Knezha, Lom, Montana, Razgrad, Teteven, Trojan and others. Rail Transport The rail station in Pleven was renovated in Yearly, it services on average over 600 thousand people. One of the main lines that span from it is Romania-Pleven-Shoumen. Interconnectivity Bus station Pleven is located within walking distance from the rail station. 8. Sliven General Info Planned infrastructure works include building two roads connecting the city to highway Trachia. 8

10 Bus Transport Due to the central location of the city on the map of Bulgaria from Bus Station Sliven leave buses to a large number of destinations, amongst which most important are the following: Yambol, Nova Zagora, Bourgas, Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, etc. The station also offers regular connections to smaller towns and cities. International lines run to Athens, Thessaloniki and Innsbruck. Rail Transport The following rail lines span the territory of Sliven Municipality: Rail Highway Line 3: Sofia-Karlovo-Sliven-Bourgas. Rail Highway Line 8: Plovdiv-Stara Zagora-Kermen-Yambol-Bourgas Those are of great significance both for freight transportation and tourist purposes offering a fast connection in direction West-East. Air Transport Sliven Municipality has a convenient location in respect to the main airports in the country. The distance from the city to those is the following: Sofia Airport 288km Bourgas Airport 130km Varna Airport 200km Plovdiv Airport 180km In the outskirts of the city there is a smaller airport, the Burshen Airport. Its runway is approximately 2,5km long. Its parameters allow for servicing civilian aircrafts. Currently, the airport does not operate. Interconnectivity The rail station is within walking distance from the bus station, approximately minutes away. A tram line also connects the two stations (201), which are three tram stops away from one another. 9. Dobrich General Notes Roads to the Black Sea, Romania and international roads to Poland, Ukraine and Russia transpass the territory of the region. Main roads: First class E-87: Bourgas Varna Balchik Shabla 9

11 Second class E-21: Silistra Dobrich Oborishte Albena Second class E-27: Dobrich Balchik Kavarna Second class E-29: Varna Dobrich General Toshevo. Bus Transport There are internal bus lines to the following destinations: Albena, Balchik, Varna, General Toshevo, Kavarna, Spasovo-Durankulak, Krushari, Rousse, Silistra, Tervel, Shabla, Shoumen. Rail Transport The railway station offers connections to the capital, the seaside and other European countries. For more information on particular lines, please see the attached map of the rail infrastructure in Bulgaria. Interconnectivity The bus and rail stations in the city are connected through a tram line (304) and a fixed-route mini bus (176). 10. Shoumen General Notes The city is located on an important transport crossroads. Two significant rail lines pass through it: the north rail line Sofia-Varna and the rail line through Komunari which connects Shoumen to Southern Bulgaria. International roads I-2 Rousse-Shoumen-Varna, I-4 Sofia-Turgovishte-Belokopitovo and I-7 Silistra-Shoumen- Yambol pass through the territory of the municipality. 23 kilometers of the Hemus highway (Sofia-Varna) fall within the Shoumen Municipality territory. Bus Transport There is only one bus station in the city Central Bus Station-Shoumen. Lines to the following destinations in Bulgaria are operating: Sofia, Bourgas, Varna, Dobrich, Rousse, Razgrad, Svishtov, Sliven, Yambol, Silistra, Omurtag, Dulovo, Kubrat, Kaolinovo, Novi Pazar, Tervel, Veliki Preslav. Rail Transport There is one rail station in the city. Interconnectivity The Central Bus Station-Shoumen and the Central Rail Station-Shoumen are located in immediate proximity. 10

12 11. Rail Transport Maps *Please, see next page National Network 11

13 11.2. International Lines 12

14 2 Description of the legal background of the organizations involved in transport provision 2.1 Legal Framework Bus Transport The Automobile Transport Act Organization and management of the bus transport The Minister of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications guides and controls the carrying out of the automobile transport of passengers and loads in the Republic of Bulgaria. He exercises his authority through Executive Agency Automobile Administration. The Council of Ministers adopts statute-book of regulations for the activities, the structure, the organization and the composition of Executive Agency Automobile Administration. Executive agency Automobile Administration is a legal entity of a budget support through the Ministry of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications, a secondary regulator with budget resources with head office in Sofia and regional branches. Automobile Administration : controls the execution of the requirements for the points for carrying out periodical check-ups for examining the technical conditions of the vehicles; develops the republican transport scheme; analyses the operation of the normative regulations in the sphere of automobile transport and evaluates the effect of their implementation; examines the presence of the legal conditions and requirements for access to international transport of passengers and loads; carries out control functions on the basis of this law; provides information determined by the Insurance Codex and the subdelegated legislation for its implementation to the Guarantee Fund in relation to the compulsory Accident insurance of the passengers in the vehicles for public transport and carries out the control of the contraction and renewal of the insurance. Requirements for carrying out public transport Public transportation of passengers and loads is carried out by a carrier, who has a license for carrying out transportation of passengers or loads on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, a license for carrying out international transportation of passengers or loads license from the Community, or certificate for registration for carrying out taxi transport of passengers, and documents required by this law. Executive Agency Automobile Administration keeps a register of the motor vehicles to each license. The Minister of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications or officials authorized by him issue the licenses under this law proposed by Executive Agency Automobile Administration. Transport of passengers on bus lines The public transport of passengers on bus lines is carried out in accordance with approved transport schemes republican, regional and municipal. The republican transport scheme includes bus lines servicing two or more regions. The Minister of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications approves it. 13

15 The regional transport schemes include bus lines servicing two or more municipalities from one region. They are approved by the respective regional governors. The Minister of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications together with the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works determine with a regulation the conditions and the order for approval of transport schemes and for carrying out public transport of passengers with busses. The transport on bus lines is commissioned to licensed carriers by competition. The carriers are obliged to carry out the bus lines commissioned to them and the schedules in accordance with the requirements of this law, the Traffic Law, the sub-delegated legislation issued on the basis of them and with the agreements reached by the contracting authority. The intercity bus lines are serviced compulsory by officially announced by the municipalities bus stations and bus stops on the respective routes. The Minister of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications determines with a regulation the compulsory requirements for the bus stations, the conditions and the work order in them. All carriers on bus lines are obliged to use the bus stations and the bus stops on the realized route and to comply with the approved schedule. In the settlements with more than one bus station the mayor of the municipality determines which bus stations are the first, the intermediate and the end stops on the route Control The Minister of Transport, Informational Technology and Communications, together with the Minister of the Interior, guides and realizes the control of the implementation of the law during the carrying out of transport of passengers and loads with motor vehicles with Bulgarian or foreign registration. The control is carried out through Executive Agency Automobile Administration. The officials from Executive Agency Automobile Administration have the right: o o o o to exercise control for keeping the rules for carrying out public transportation of passengers and loads and for carrying out transport for personal expense as well as for the technical conditions of the vehicles, with which the transport is being carried out; to control the condition of the material base and the execution of the educational programs for training of candidates for acquiring professional competencies; to carry out control of the condition and the activities of the bus stations; to use technical funds for identifying the size, the mass and the loading of an axis and the technical condition of the vehicles and the technical resources for controlling the equipments for limiting the speed Financing The prices for public transport of passengers and loads are formed freely on the basis of the supply and the demand. Annually, the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria includes expenses for: 14

16 subsidizing the transport of passengers on unprofitable bus lines in the inter-city transport and the transport in the mountain and other regions by proposal of the Minister of Transport, Information technology and Communications; compensation of decreased profits as a result of the implementation of travel prices, foreseen in the normative acts for certain categories of passengers Rail Transport -- Rail Transport Act Ownership The sites of railway infrastructure and the land on which these sites are built or which is designed for their construction are with a status of public state ownership and their use is carried out by National Company Railway Infrastructure or by dealers who have received a concession on the basis of the regulations of the Law on Concessions. New sites of railway infrastructure could be built only on lands with a status of public state ownership The Minister The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications carries out state policy in railway transport by putting forward ten-year program for the development of railway transport and railway infrastructure to the Council of Ministers; determines by a regulation the rules and the important requirements to railway infrastructure and the rolling-stock for achieving operational compatibility of the national railway system with the one in the European Union; ensures the completion of the taken by the country responsibilities resulting from the bilateral and multilateral international agreements in the sphere of railway transport and the development of the railway infrastructure; allows the intersection of the railways from the railway infrastructure with other roads and facilities as well as the connection of the railway lines from the railway infrastructure; issues the Statute-book for regulations of National Company Railway Infrastructure, appoints and dismisses its General Manager and its Governing Council; creates the necessary organization for impartial investigation of heavy railway incidents; determines with a regulation the rules and the order of development and approval of the permanent schedule of the train traffic on the railway infrastructure and the rules for operational changes in it on the basis of the particular conditions; approves of the measures for overcoming and preventing the outcome from disasters and accidents, which have affected the railway infrastructure; determines the activities related to the management of the safety of railway transport. The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications approves of the annual program for the construction, the support, the repairs, the development and the exploitation of the railway infrastructure Coordination and control Executive Agency Railway Administration is a regulatory body in the railway transport. Its activities, structure and organization are determined by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. The Agency s head office is in Sofia. It also has regional branches. Executive Agency Railway Administration : 1) Controls the access to railway infrastructure and the execution of the responsibilities for public services; 2) checks the execution of the requirements for issuing of licenses and permissions on the basis of this law; 15

17 3) is administrator of the fees for issuing licenses, certificates, proofs and permissions on the basis of this law as well as of the fees for issuing documents for qualification and for recognition of qualification to the amount determined by the Council of Ministers grounded on a proposal by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications; 4) issues documents of qualification to the personnel of the railway transport; 5) keeps registers and collects statistical data for the activities in the railway transport; 6) develops and offers to the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications normative acts in the sphere of railway transport; 7) carries out control functions on the basis of this law, including functions in regards to the introduction to exploitation of structural subsystems of the railway system; 8) puts forward for approval to the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications measures for preventing and overcoming the outcome of disasters and accidents, which have affected the railway infrastructure; 9) coordinates the projects for intersection of the railways from the railway infrastructure with the roads from the republican road network, the local roads, the streets, the pipelines, the cable and air high-voltage and lowvoltage lines and others as well as the projects for connecting the railways from the railway infrastructure; Management of the railway infrastructure The National Company Railway Infrastructure is a manager of the railway infrastructure i.e. it manages the property provided to it public and private state ownership. The activities of National Company Railway Infrastructure are: 1) ensuring the use of the railway infrastructure by licensed carriers with equal conditions; 2) carrying out activities for the development, the repairs and support and the exploitation of the railway infrastructure; 3) determining and collecting the infrastructural fees from the licensed railway carriers in accordance with a methodology adopted by the Council of Ministers on the grounds of a proposal by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications; 4) developing the schedules of the train traffic in coordination with the carriers and for passenger s transport also with the municipalities; 5) management of the train work in the railway infrastructure; 6) accepting the carriers applications for obtaining capacity from the railway infrastructure for carrying out transportation when the capacity of the railway infrastructure is publicly announced and providing an access on the basis of the conditions foreseen by this law; 7) accepting and executing the applications of the carriers for obtaining capacity from the railway infrastructure in relation to executing the responsibilities commissioned to them for carrying out public transport services; 8) preparing, supporting and keeping a register containing data for the land and the sites belonging to railway infrastructure; 9) distributing traction electricity to the distributive networks of the railway transport; Using the railway infrastructure The use of railway infrastructure is carried out by licensed railway carriers, who have a certificate for safety. International railway alliances have the right to access the railway infrastructure, including the right of transit passage, when at least one of the railway carriers is licensed on the basis of this law. 16

18 International railway alliances, in which there is no Bulgarian participant, have the right of transit passage on the railway infrastructure when the transport is carried out between member states in the European Union, which have licensed the carriers participating in the alliance Licensing The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications determines with a regulation the rules and the order for licensing the carriers. Licenses for carrying out railway transport of passengers and/or loads are issued by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications or by an authorized by him official Financing The financing of the activities of Executive Agency Railway Administration is realized from the budget of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications through: the fees for issuing of licenses, certificates, proofs and permissions on the basis of this law as well as for issuing of documents for qualification and for recognition of qualification; the resources from the fines and the property sanctions on the basis of this law; interests from the deposits of own resources and from overdue payments; own income. The state takes part in the financing of the activities for the construction, the support the development and the exploitation of the railway infrastructure. The amount of the financing is determined within the framework of a five-year contract between the state, represented by the Finance Minister and by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications on the one side, and the National Company Railway infrastructure on the other. The financing of the activities for the support and the exploitation of the railway infrastructure is done through: 1) the republican budget; 2) the infrastructural fees mentioned in this law; 3) the income from the trade activities of the infrastructure s Manager; 4) credits; 5) resources from programs of the European Union; 6) income from services on the basis of a price list Infrastructural fees The carriers pay infrastructural fees and price for the distribution of traction electricity on the distributive networks of the railway transport, approved by the State commission for energy and water regulation. The money for its use is paid to the Manager of the railway infrastructure. The income from infrastructural fees is spent entirely on the support of the railway infrastructure. The expenses of the Manager of the infrastructure for carrying out the transport by the railway carriers are covered Air Transport -- Civilian Aviation Act Organization and management The Council of Ministers determines the zones in the air space. 17

19 The Minister of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications guides and controls the civil aviation by: 1) organizing the Republic of Bulgaria s participation in the international organizations for aviation, which the Republic of Bulgaria is party to; 2) organizing and coordinating the use of the air space for the needs of the civil aviation; 3) coordinating the issuing of permits for construction of sites from the aviation s infrastructure; 4) determining norms, rules and procedures in the sphere of civil aviation, including the conditions and the order for transport of dangerous loads; 5) determining with a regulation the rules and the order for issuing, changing, limiting, termination and suspension of certificates, permits, proofs, approvals and licenses on the basis of this law; 6) determining the rules for keeping the respective registers and the data base for certified sites and entities; 7) guides the management of airports for public use, when they are not given on a concession; 8) issues a regulation for the general rules of reimbursement and giving support to passengers when air carrier has refused to accept them on the board of the aviation vehicle and when a flight has been cancelled or delayed; 9) determining with regulations the requirements for the tariffs for regular and charter flights as well as the general rules for introducing and using computerized systems for reservations; 10) has other responsibilities determined by law or by an international agreement, which the Republic of Bulgaria is party to; 11) approving of the investment programs of legal entities, which use resources from fees; 12) issuing a regulation for the working time of the aviation personnel, which has certificates of qualification; 13) issuing regulations for introduction of safety requirements for management of air traffic of the European organization for safety of the aviation (Eurocontrol); 14) issuing a regulation for the rules of inspection on the platforms of air vehicles, which are not included in the Civil register for the air vehicles, landing and taking off airports on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria; 15) issuing a regulation for the rules and procedures in relation to the introduction of operative limitations, related to the noise in the civil airports for public use. 18

20 The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications exercises his authority though Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration The DG Civil Aviation Administration is a state budget supported legal entity within the Ministry of Transport, headquartered in Sofia, and a secondary principal of budgetary loans. The structure, the activities and the functions of Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration are determined by a status-book issued by the Minister. Bulgarian aviation operators carry out trade operations with an air vehicle in the country and abroad on the basis of a trade agreement. When such agreement is lacking the operations are done by rules and order determined by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. Foreign aviation operators can carry out trade operations with air vehicle in the country and abroad on the basis of an international agreement, which the Republic of Bulgaria is party to. When such an agreement is lacking the operations are done by rules and order determined by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications determines with a regulation the rules and the order for issuing the certificates and the licenses, which allow for carrying out activities with an air vehicle. The license is issued by the General Manager of Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration Control and Regulation Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration carries out regulatory and control functions of the state for ensuring the safety and the security in the aviation by: carrying out the functions of a civil aviation administration in coordination with the international agreements in the sphere of civil aviation, which the Republic of Bulgaria is party to. controlling the civil aviation, the civil airports and landing places, the civil air vehicles and other facilities related to the civil aviation; controlling the observation of this law and of the sub-delegated legislation by issuing compulsory prescripts in the cases foreseen by the law; implementing and developing the National Program for Safety in Civil Aviation; controlling the actions of the physical and legal entities in relation to the security and safety of the civil aviation; controlling the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the airport operators and of the air carriers in regards to the rights of people with disabilities and of people with limited mobility when travelling with air transport; keeping the foreseen by the law registers; 19

21 сoordinating the framework schemes and plans including airport areas and the investment projects for the construction of sites in the airport area and their surroundings in the span of the normatively defined servient zones and the zones of influence as well as the air routes in relation to ensuring the security and the safety of the aviation; investigating incidents with air vehicles in the country; putting forward for issuing by the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications of sub-delegated legislation in the sphere of civil aviation; carrying out coordination between the administration and the legal entities in the sphere of aviation in relation to the safety and the security of the flights; supporting a unified data base and issuing identification cards of the flight crews and passes to people, who fulfill their professional responsibilities in the security zones as well as to motor vehicles for access to the security zones of civil airports for public use; controlling the implementation of the requirements for simplification of the procedures for servicing the passengers, the procession and the servicing of air vehicles, baggage, loads and mail; controlling the execution by the legal entities of the functions taken as a responsibility by the state by the force of the international agreements and in coordination with the acting standards, rules and categories for ensuring the aviation; ordering the detainment of air vehicles in the cases foreseen by the law; organizing the collection, the sustainment in actual state and the provision of specialized data for the sites from the Law of cadastre and the Property register and the creation of specialized maps, registries and informational data bases; collecting fees in the cases foreseen by the law; Financing The National Supervisory Body includes the expenses for the execution of its functions in the plan for efficiency of the air navigation servicing and the network functions. The resources from exceeding the income of the National Supervisory Body, provided by the distributors of air navigation servicing, over the expenses made and proven for carrying out its functions at the end of the calendar year, are used in the next financial years. They are spent in a result-oriented way for carrying out its functions. The resources for carrying out the functions of the National Supervisory Body are approved by the General Manager of Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration and are spent in a result-oriented way though the budget of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Fees In the airports for public use airport fees are collected for: landing of air vehicles; parking; passengers; the use of a passenger sleeve, etc. Directorate General Civil Aviation Administration collects fees for administrative servicing and for carrying procedures out. 20

22 The financing of the activities for ensuring the safety and the security of the flights and for sustaining and development of the civil airports for public use public state ownership is done through the budget of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, with an exception of the cases when an international treaty foresees something else or of a civil airport public state ownership given on a concession, if in the concession agreement in coordination with the decision of the Council of Ministers for opening a procedure for giving on a concession something else is foreseen. The financing of the activities for ensuring the safety and the security of the flights, the construction, the support, the development and the maintenance of the civil airports for public use public state ownership, for which a concession is given and the right to collect for his/her own benefit from the entire or part of the fees is given to the concessioner the financing is done by rules and order defined in the concession agreement in compliance with the decision of the Council of Ministers for opening a procedure for giving a concession. 3 Mapping of ongoing and planned investments 3.1 Strategic Outlook The Strategy for Development of the Transport Infrastructure of the Republic of Bulgaria Until 2015 is a key document that provides general guidelines for investments and projects related to transportation. Three central directions for development are identified: Acceleration of the implementation of current large infrastructure projects; Development of a long-term investment program that would guarantee that the state will ensure the necessary resources for financing and co-financing of the most important infrastructure projects; Optimal absorption of resources from the EU Cohesion and Structural Funds Air Transport Sofia Airport has been renovated and expanded to include Terminal 2 in November Varna and Bourgas airports temporary terminals for incoming and outgoing passengers during the summer season are planned. The general plans for the development of Sofia and Bourgas airports will be updated. Varna, Plovdiv, Gorna Oryachovitsa and Rousse, Targovishte and Stara Zagora general plans with planned building of adequate capacity up to one year after their concession should be developed. Planned activities for solving the identified problems of airports 21

23 Infrastructure problems of each airport should be solved by its future operator recepient of a concession or owner. For Sofia Airport, as it is state-owned, this would be the state. Hence, the state should facilitate the process of concession (or privatization) within certain time frames. This process is a multitude of activities that would guarantee the solution of the problems of air infrastructure Rail Transport Ongoing/Finalized Projects Pan-European Transport Corridor IV Project: Cosrtuction of a second bridge across the Danube between Vidin and Kalafat Significance of the project: The project creates the missing connection on the route of Corridor IV; Important socio-economic importance for the region; It is included in the list of priorities of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe; It is supported by the European Commission (Programmes PHARE and ISPA), EIB, KfW, AFD. Total costs of the project: EUR 226 millions. EUR 70 millions gratuitous financial assistance from ISPA EUR 70 millions EIB loan EUR 5 millions -- gratuitous financial assistance from AFD EUR 18 millions loan from KfW EUR 2,045 millions -- gratuitous financial assistance from KfW EUR 60,76 millions co-financing from the national budget Project: Reconstruction and Electrification of the rail line Plovdiv-Svilengrad Significance of the project: Providing for a rail connection between Europe and Asia; Intergrating Bulgaria s rail network into the trans-european transport network. 22

24 Total Project Costs: EUR 340 millions EUR 150 millions EIB loan EUR 153 millions -- gratuitous financial assistance from ISPA EUR 37 millions co-financing from the state budget. Project: Modernization of the Supportive and Telecommunications Equipment of the Rail Line Blagoevgrad-Kulata Significance of the Project: Technical compatibility between the rail infrastructure of Bulgaria and Greece by modernizing the supporting and telecommunications equipment and by introducing modern technologies on the rail line Sofia-Solun; Decrease in the trip duration and increase in the velocity of transportation of passenger and freight trains between the border regions Blagoevgrad and Seres. Total Project Costs: EUR 4,44millions EUR 3,32 millions -- gratuitous financial assistance from PHARE CBC EUR 1,12 millions co-financing from the state budget Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII Project: Doubling and Electrification of the Rail Line Karnobat-Sindel Significance of the project: Providing a rail connection between Europe and Asia; Intergrating Bulgaria s rail network into the trans-european transport network. Total project costs: EUR 21, 12 millions (state budget). 23

25 Planned Projects Projects related to the most important axis for development of the Trans-European transport network and its connection to neighboring states and regions. Pan-European Transport Corridor IV Electrification and reconstruction of the rail line Svilengrad-Turkish border; Doubling and electrification of the rail line Purvomai-Yabulkovo; Modernization of the rail line Sofia-Pernik-Radomir; Modernization of the rail line Sofia-Plovdiv (finishing works on the line Sofia-Elin Pelin and partial work on the line Elin Pelin-Belovo); Modernization of the rail line Vidin-Sofia (finishing of the line Vidin-Brusartsi and partial work on the line Brusartsi-Mezdra); Project planning of the rail line Radomir-Blagoevgrad. Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII Restoration of project parameters of the line Plovdiv-Zimnitsa; Renovation of sections of the rail line Plovdiv-Bourgas; Doubling and electrification of the rail line Karnobat-Sindel. Pan-European Transport Corridor X Modernization of the rail line Sofia-Dragoman. Intermodal Transport Terminal Sofia The realization of the project that foresees the creation of an intermodal transport terminal in Sofia that will service all three Pan-European transport corridors (IV, VIII and X) is of huge national importance Projects related to the Pan-European corridors that are not covered by the main axises Pan-European Transport Corridor IX 24