The Government will contract local rail transport operators so as to provide the population with high-quality services at accessible prices. The passenger transportation companies will be chosen in a transparent way based on negotiations and tender contests that will be launched in the second half of 2023, IPN reports.

In today’s meeting, the Cabinet approved the regulations on public rail transport services by which the provision of such services is regulated and the public services contracts and their content are specified.

This way, the chosen operators will transport passengers according to the itineraries set by the Government, with stops at all the rail stations, including in geographic areas where the state-run Moldova’s Railways no longer provides passenger transportations services or operates a reduced number of train routes.

The public services contract that will be negotiated with potential beneficiaries provides that the rail companies will use modern and safe rolling stock accessible to persons with disabilities, with compliant sanitary facilities, device charging stations, etc. The local passenger transport operators will have to ensure the digitization of the ticket sale/refund service and the installation of electronic train passenger control systems so as to avoid illegal schemes aimed at overestimating losses.