Bulgaria’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Krasimira Stoyanova, exercised an option of a contract and signed the contract for the supply of 5 additional Škoda EMUs which are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. Based on the well-known RegioPanter design, these new trains will offer more than 300 seats in modern, air-conditioned carriages, replacing outdated vehicles.
BGN 127.8 million (EUR 65.47 million) is the value of the contract which also includes the provision of maintenance services for a period of 15 years and staff training.
The contract has been signed with the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer of Škoda Transportation and Škoda Wagon Peter Novotny, on November 7, 2024, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Sofia, Miroslav Toman.
“We all know what a great need the Bulgarian railway has for new rolling stock and the difficulties we face in providing it,” the Minister said at the signing ceremony, adding that “the European Commission for the first time accepts the financing of railway rolling stock to be provided by the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027.”
The new rolling stock has a capacity of at least 300 seats and is capable running of speeds of up to 160 km/h. The delivery period is 2 years, and the funding is implemented under Priority 3 “Improving intermodality, innovation, modernised traffic management systems, improving transport security and safety” of the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027.
On November 4, 2024, the Minister of Transport and Communications announced that following negotiations, the European Commission “accepted our arguments for amending the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027 and including a project for the purchase of new rolling stock,” Minister Stoyanova said.
The additional ordered Škoda EMUs will be put into operation on busy routes in Northern Bulgaria such as Ruse – Varna, Varna – Gorna Oryahovitsa – Mezdra and will also serve shorter distance routes including Sofia – Dragoman.
In 2026, “we will all witness a renewal of the railway stock, providing 25 new electric Škoda locomotives,” Krasimira Stoyanova said.
“I am pleased that funding opportunities were found for this contract and thank everyone who made this agreement a reality,” said the Chief Operating Officer of the consortium Škoda Transportation and Škoda Wagon, Peter Novotny.
In September 2024, Škoda Group announced winning the contract to supply Bulgaria up to 25 RegioPanter EMUs with a firm order for 20 four-car electric multiple units.
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