On 13 November, STB moved from a broad diagnosis of its financial problems to initial insolvency-restructuring measures. The figures released by Bucharest City Hall point to operational changes being necessary; the mayor’s pledge that passengers will not pay more now needs the backing of a full public plan rather than assurances alone.
According to the City Hall, judicial administrator Remus Borza reported losses of 767 million lei over the analysed ten-month period. STB had revenue of 1.2 billion lei, with wage costs accounting for 81% of that amount, or 1.01 billion lei. Those figures explain why restructuring cannot remain a communications exercise: the insolvent company must show how it will lower costs without weakening daily transport.
The announced steps run in two directions. STB is introducing electronic route sheets so vehicle data can be used to compare mileage and fuel use with paper records. The administrator also cited the elimination of 919 vacant posts, notices issued for 796 occupied posts, and a reduction in management roles. Expanding ticket sales through Meridian Taxi, Selpay and, according to City Hall, parking meters from 1 December could make tickets easier to buy, but it cannot by itself repair the financial imbalance.
Mayor Ciprian Ciucu said fares would not rise and free travel would not be removed for any category. That is the strongest case for the restructuring: efficiency measures should protect both essential jobs and access to the network. But the pledge will only carry weight when subsequent documents show the savings expected from each measure, how affected jobs are selected, and what the changes mean for routes and service frequency.
City Hall and the judicial administrator also made claims about fuel discrepancies, medical leave and STB’s internal organisation. Those claims should not be treated as independent findings before the relevant checks and procedures take place. The immediate development is that restructuring has begun; its next test is whether the promised savings can be demonstrated without shifting the burden onto passengers or frontline staff.
Sources
- Digi24 · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13