The first new Sofia metro train produced by Siemens- Newag consortium has left the Nowy Sacz depot and will be delivered to Sofia on July 2nd. This is the first of 20 Inspiro trains which all should be delivered this year.
The new train will be sent to Sofia by road, using three trucks which will transport it on a 1,100 km distance, passing Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia, to Bulgaria.
The three-car train body was produced at Siemens’ plant in Vienna, while the bogies at Siemens’ plant in Graz. Final assembly, factory train testing, and static commissioning of the train took place at Newag’s plant in Nowy Sacz, Poland.
The Inspiro trains for Sofia have pantographs mounted on the roof allowing them to operate in another voltage system. Additionally, the trains are air-conditioned due to the fact that these trains will travel both in tunnels and on the ground.
In March 2016, Sofia metro operator Metropolitan EAD awarded Siemens-Newag consortium a EUR 140 million contract for the supply of 20 Inspiro trains with an option for additional 10 metro trains. Within the contract, the consortium was commissioned to deliver the Trainguard MT automatic train protection system, using wireless CBTC technology to achieve automatic operation on the first 8 km and 8 stations on Line 3. Under the contract, Newag is responsible for the design and installation of train interiors, train start-up at Nowy Sącz plant, the delivery of the ready vehicles as well as providing maintenance services during the guarantee period.
In November 2017, the consortium presented Metropolitan EAD the newly-built train for Bulgarian capital metro system. The vehicles will be delivered in 2018 and they will run on city’s metro Line 3, which is scheduled to be put into operation in 2019.
Line 3 will offer metro connection on Sofia’s east-west axis. It will run 18 km mostly under the city and also at ground level outside the central parts and will serve 18 stations. The financing of the project is ensured at 70 percent by the European Union under the Operational Program “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” and 30 percent are locally co-financed.
Share on:
