Škoda Group has completed the manufacture of the first EMU for Bulgaria under the EUR 538 million contract signed in September 2024 for the supply of 25 new electric multiple units, which also includes comprehensive servicing for 15 years.
The trains are designed as modern four-car electric units based on the proven RegioPanter platform, which has been successfully operating for many years in Czechia, Slovakia and, on broad gauge, also in Latvia and Estonia.
The production of the first EMU for Bulgaria has been completed within 14 months after signing the contract, “an exceptionally short time, which was made possible by the full deployment of our most experienced project teams, the deep expertise of our engineers and the close cooperation of several Škoda Group production plants,” said Petr Novotný, CEO of the Škoda Group.
“Only 14 months after the contract was signed, we already have the first completed train for Bulgaria. Another 11 are in an advanced stage and are expected to be completed in the coming months. We will receive without delay what we have paid for — and what the Bulgarian citizens deserve,” said Grozdan Karadzhov, the Minister of Transport and Communications.
The trains will offer a capacity of more than 300 seats, a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h and will be powered by 25 kV AC 50 Hz. They are designed to meet current European safety standards. Škoda Group will equip them with a second-level ETCS security system, a security camera system inside and outside the trains, comfortable air conditioning, Wi-Fi connection, ergonomic seats and multifunctional spaces for passengers with reduced mobility, parents with prams or cyclists.
The partially low-floor design will allow for comfortable boarding and disembarkation. Škoda Group will ensure smooth operation of the trains on Bulgarian railways with comprehensive servicing, which the group will provide for 15 years from a newly leased Bulgarian depot.
The new RegioPanter EMUs will significantly rejuvenate Bulgarian fleet as the current rolling stock, which includes older Škoda locomotives, will be replaced by vehicles that meet the technical specifications for interoperability and all current European standards, and bring significant savings in operating costs thanks to advanced technologies and lower energy consumption. This will help to increase passenger comfort and make regional lines more efficient and environmentally friendly.
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