In Moldova, passenger rail transport services will improve, more comfortable trains and new routes will appear.
This was reported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, noting that, in particular, the government, at the initiative of the industry department, approved the creation of a Working Group on the organization and implementation of work to conclude a contract for the provision of public railway passenger transport services. The group will be responsible for preparing the necessary documents for the procedure for concluding a contract for the provision of public services and negotiating agreements with railway companies. Thus, the government will enter into contracts with railway passenger transport operators to provide quality services to the population, provide passengers with comfortable trains and ensure diversification of passenger trips. The said Working Group includes representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the National Road Transport Agency, the Railway Transport Agency, the Union of the Federation of Railway Workers of Moldova, as well as two members with observer status - the Information and Security Service and the National Anti-Corruption Center. As InfoMarket previously reported, in February 2023, the government approved the Regulations on services for the transportation of passengers by rail, which regulates the conditions for the provision of public services, the procedure for concluding contracts for public services, the conditions for the use of railway rolling stock used for transportation, and monitoring of compliance with the terms of contracts, the procedure for calculating compensation and reporting obligations for the provision of services. It is envisaged that the government will enter into contracts with local passenger rail transport operators to provide quality services to the public at an affordable price. Railway companies providing services will be selected transparently, based on proposals of intent and negotiations. The enterprises that will be responsible for local rail passenger transport must operate on routes established by the government, providing drop-off/pick-up services for passengers at all railway stations, including in areas where the Moldovan Railway no longer provides passenger transport services and does not provide train traffic with a reduced number of railway trips. Also, local railway passenger carriers will have to ensure the digitalization of ticket sales/return services, and keep records of passengers on trains using electronic systems in order to avoid the implementation of criminal schemes by inflating losses. The regulation will come into force on February 18, 2024, with the exception of the section on public rail passenger transportation services, which began to apply on September 18, 2023. // 31.01.2024 — InfoMarket
