EC approves 32 million euro state aid for Bulgarian railways

The European Commission has announced that it has approved €32 million (BGN 63 million) in state aid for the switch of freight and passenger transport from road to rail.

The scheme will be financed through the Recovery and Resilience mechanism.

The aim is to remove technical barriers to the interoperability of railways because they are better for the environment for transporting people and freight.

Support will take the form of direct grants to railway companies to finance the integration of the European Train Control System ('ETCS') Level 2 into existing rolling stock.

ETCS is the signalling and control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

The scheme will support the deployment of ERTMS, which improves cross-border rail interoperability and enhances the competitiveness of rail transport. It will run until 30 April 2026.