The BDZ’s rolling stock, Bulgaria’s national rail operator, is set to be modernised and renewed, supported by recent contracts for new trains as well as financial agreements enabling the implementation of these projects.
Eurofima has signed a framework financing agreement with the Bulgarian passenger rail operator, BDZ Passengers, worth up to EUR 22 million. This initiative marks a further step in strengthening the partnership between the two entities and supporting the modernisation of Bulgaria’s rail transport.
The first tranche of financing, amounting to EUR 8.1 million, was made available to BDZ at the beginning of April 2026, with a repayment period of 10 years.
The funds will be used to acquire 35 second-hand intercity coaches from Germany, which will be introduced into service on domestic public transport routes in Bulgaria.
In March, the Ministry of Transport announced that the Bulgarian rail operator will acquire a total of 91 coaches from Deutsche Bahn, helping to address the shortage of passenger rolling stock.
The coaches are equipped with modern HVAC (air conditioning) systems and have undergone several refurbishment programmes over time. Improvements include a complete interior redesign and the installation of external passenger information systems. Each unit has a capacity of up to 80 seats, thereby increasing both comfort and transport capacity.
New trains added to BDZ’s rolling stock
This investment comes at a time when the rail operator is accelerating the renewal of its rolling stock, in a context where a large share of existing vehicles are ageing, in many cases exceeding 30 years in service.
By introducing the 35 refurbished coaches, the Bulgarian operator aims to improve service quality on intercity routes, particularly on high-traffic corridors such as Sofia–Varna and Sofia–Burgas.
According to recent data, BDZ carries around 20 million passengers annually, but demand for faster and more comfortable services is increasing. The new coaches will help boost overall capacity and better align services with market needs, as the operator seeks to regain competitiveness compared to road transport.
The agreement with Eurofima is part of a broader strategy to finance the modernisation of Bulgaria’s railway system. In recent years, the operator has benefited from financial support from both European sources and international lending mechanisms for the acquisition of rolling stock and infrastructure rehabilitation.
At the same time, the company is implementing investment programmes for the procurement of new electric trains, depot modernisation and the digitalisation of passenger services. Bulgarian authorities have announced that by 2030 they aim to significantly renew the rail fleet, with a focus on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
BDZ Passengers also has a contract with Škoda Group for the delivery of 25 RegioPanter electric multiple units, each consisting of four coaches, under an investment of EUR 500 million. The first two units have already been delivered.
Another major contract for the modernisation of BDZ’s rolling stock was signed in October 2025 with the BULEMU consortium, formed by Alstom (leader) and RVP Invest. Under this EUR 720 million contract, Alstom will deliver 35 Coradia Stream interregional electric multiple units. These six-car trains are Bulgaria’s first interregional EMUs and will provide services for journeys exceeding five hours.
It is also worth noting that Siemens Mobility has delivered 15 Smartron locomotives to the operator, which has additionally ordered 10 more, all equipped with ETCS Level 2.
ETCS on-board deployment
It should be noted that the new trains in BDZ’s rolling stock fleet will be equipped with ETCS to ensure interoperability and a high level of safety.
ERTMS is one of the central pillars of the modernisation and digitalisation of Bulgaria’s railway system. Alongside the renewal and upgrading of BDZ’s rolling stock, digitalisation plays a key role, being essential both for improving operational reliability and for ensuring interoperability with the European rail network. At present, the level of ETCS deployment in Bulgaria remains low, at around 5% of the total rolling stock, but the national objective is to reach approximately 10% by 2030.
The implementation of ERTMS in Bulgaria is supported, as in all Member States, through a combination of national funding and European mechanisms, primarily aimed at modernising and digitalising rail infrastructure. Between 2009 and 2025, Bulgarian authorities have used these instruments to introduce interoperable signalling systems and to increase safety levels in railway operations. In this context, the approved state aid has amounted to approximately EUR 32 million.
A relevant example is the European Commission’s 2023 decision approving EUR 32 million in support for the installation of ETCS on board rolling stock used for both passenger and freight transport, with an implementation deadline set for April 2026. Also in 2023, the Ministry of Transport announced the fitting of 89 trains with ETCS, of which 64 belong to BDZ, while the infrastructure manager NRIC launched a procurement procedure for the modernisation of 108 electric locomotives and coaches.
Overall, these investments confirm Bulgaria’s direction towards a fully modernised railway system, where the renewal, equipping and digitalisation of BDZ’s rolling stock become key elements in the transition to an interoperable, safe network aligned with European transport standards.
Share on:
