Bulgarian State Railways plan to increase the price of some of the services the company offers.

The hike will affect mainly the prices of short trip train tickets. These prices have been unchanged since August 2004, Focus news agency reported.

Various developments since then call for the price increase. Fuel is now nearly 40 per cent more expensive than it was in the summer of 2004, state railways representatives said.

Price increase was also needed to make the railways more competitive and able to deal with the increasing number of bus companies.

Tickets are to become five per cent more expensive for the trips making use of the new diesel trains Bulgarian State Railways purchased. Higher prices were going to guarantee better service, company representatives said.

Discount cards will also be updated and will cost more. New discount options are to be introduced. Group travel will cost 15 per cent less than the regular tickets.