РАЗВИТИЕ НА ПЪТНИЧЕСКИЯ ЖЕЛЕЗОПЪТЕН ТРАНСПОРТ В БЪЛГАРИЯ СЛЕД ПАНДЕМИЯТА COVID-19
DEVELOPMENT OF PASSENGER RAIL TRANSPORT IN BULGARIA AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Author(s): Borislav Arnaudov
Subject(s): Economy, Socio-Economic Research, Transport / Logistics
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: railway transport; pandemic; energy crisis; environmental friendliness; sustainability
Summary/Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic seriously affected the economy in every country. It had a heavy impact especially on the transport sector and in particular the passenger sector, where the damage was catastrophic. The health crisis stopped the mobility of people for a long period of time and significantly limited the capacity of passenger transport. The article examines the possible actions to be implemented as measures and outlines the directions for development so that passenger rail transport is more resilient in future crises. It also gives perspective to the transport sector and in particular the rail subsector on how to approach the ‘new normal’ that follows the pandemic. What changed user behavior towards public transport service? What should the new generations of trains look like and how will this impose a new adaptation in offering transport services to people? What can be done to restore passenger trust in rail transport? Is it possible to have a “new mobility paradigm” that takes into account new needs, new requirements and above all environmental and energy concerns. It is no coincidence that one of the few positive impacts of the pandemic was the reduction of greenhouse emissions and the beneficial effect on the environment. At the end of the study, concrete steps are given that should be taken by those responsible for rail transport, so that in the coming years it should be the main role in the mobility of people.

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