The European Union moved to expand the travellers rights and liberalise the railways sector with a newly-voted European railways directive.

The directive will go into force before the end of 2009 and will liberalise the international routes starting from January 1, 2010.

Following a progress report in 2012, the European Commission will consider whether to liberalise domestic markets as well.

The directive also outlines mandatory monetary compensation for lost luggage and train delays, as well as forcing railway companies to provide access for disabled passengers.

Thus, travellers will be compensated with 25% of their ticket costs if the train delay exceeds one hour and 50% if it exceeds two hours.

Although initially applied only to international routes, the directive will then be implemented on domestic routes as well, which could spell trouble for Bulgaria's decrepit state-run BDZ railway.

With tens of thousands on payroll, the government has shown no indication so far that it plans to put the company in private hands, but neither has it been able to invest in restructuring BDZ.

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