100% of express trains are now powered by Siemens Smartron locomotives. This is another important step towards achieving modern and environmentally friendly rail transport. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov said, who today put into operation three new Siemens Smartron electric locomotives.
“The new machines are named after Bulgarian personalities who contributed to the railway - Georgi Ikonomov, Zahari Stoyanov and Boris Kolchev. Today they will begin work, two of them will head to Burgas and the third – to Ruse,” Karadzhov said. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the goal of the Bulgarian railway is to provide new and reliable locomotives. “Ones that do not ignite, do not break down and do not burn their transformers. This will reduce delays and make them significantly more energy efficient,” explained Grozdan Karadzhov.
The new machines are part of a contract for the supply of 10 locomotives with a total value of just over BGN 91 million. With them, the total number of Siemens Smartron locomotives in the Bulgarian State Railways is now 24, and the last one under the contract will be delivered by the end of 2025. They are equipped with state-of-the-art traffic safety technologies that significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
“Although overcoming the challenges in the railway sector is a complex process, we are already looking for options to buy or rent new railway wagons and spare ones to meet the growing demand,” Deputy Prime Minister Karadzhov stated. He pointed out that by the end of the year, the shortage of railway wagons will reach 70 and the possibility of applying for the EU climate fund is being considered in order to improve transport infrastructure and reduce social inequalities in poorer regions.
