All the new 25 trains will be delivered to Bulgaria until August 2026
The first new electrical train „Škoda“, will arrive in Bulgaria in January 2026, and from April 2026 the train will start to transport passengers. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr. Grozdan Karadjov has stated this during his visit at the „Škoda“ factory in Pilsen, Czech Republic. He inspected the progress of manufacturing and performed the first test-driving by the already manufactured rail train.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the manufacturing teams and emphasized that the implementation is being performed precisely as per the time schedule: „Only 14 months after the contract signature we have the first manufactured train for Bulgaria. Another 11 are at an advanced stage that are envisaged to be completed in the next months. We are going to receive on time without a delay what we have paid – and what the Bulgarian citizens deserve“.
The first train arrives in January next year and it starts the obligatory commissioning tests that will last several months. In the meantime, another two trains will arrive and the tests will continue in different configurations – in double and triple compositions. As at present are being performed the tests of the other model trains that “Alstom” produces, equally the new „Škoda“ trains will be tested along almost the entire railway network of Bulgaria.
„In the spring time the new train will depart on the Bulgarian routes“, said Karadjov.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed on the high quality and modern technologies in the manufacturing process:
„The information boards will display the information in Bulgarian and English language. The flat floors will facilitate the train boarding of persons with reduced mobility, each train is equipped with two mechanical ramps for wheelchairs, and there is an adapted lavatory as well for the persons with reduced mobility. The trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, 333 seats and at least as many more for standing persons. The Bulgarian citizens have been waiting these conveniences for years“.
The delivery of the new multiple units is carried out under a contract with Škoda Transportation and Škoda Vagonka. The total value is over BGN 639 million excluding VAT, fully financed by European programmes.
The main contract for 20 trains amounts to BGN 511.4 million excluding VAT and is financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The additional agreement for another 5 trains amounts to BGN 127.8 million excluding VAT and is financed under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021–2027.
