Russian Railways is interested in the freight subsidiary of Bulgarian State Railways, Interfax reported, citing local media.
Other suitors for the Bulgarian freight subsidiary, which is expected to be privatized in 2012, include Romania's Grup Feroviar Roman, France's SNCF and Turkish State Railways. The Bulgarian freight company is strategically important for those who want to use the Thessalonica port, a vital gateway for Chinese goods destined for Europe, the media reports said.
Bulgarian State Railways carried out a number of reforms in 2011, sparking protests among railroad workers. The company's freight services are profitable. In the middle of April, it was also reported that Russian Railways made an offer to buy a stake in a Greek rail carrier.
(MT)
