Bulgaria signed a contract with Škoda for five more trains

Bulgarian Interim Minister of Transport Krasimira Stoyanova and the Czech company Škoda signed the additional agreement for the supply of 5 more electric trains. The signing took place at an official ceremony at the country’s transport ministry.

The new rolling stock will cost the Bulgarian state 64 million euros, and the trains will be used on some of the busiest lines: Ruse - Varna, Varna - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Mezdra, as well as Sofia - Slivnitsa - Dragoman. The price also includes delivery, training and a 15-year warranty. The funds are provided under the "Transport Connectivity" program.

In 2026, we will have a new rolling stock to ensure reliable transport," commented the transport minister.

The additional agreement was signed about 2 months after the conclusion of the main contract with the company, which was for the supply of 20 trains. These are financed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, and their total value is 205 million euros.

Petr Novotny, Executive Board Chairman of Škoda Group and Chief Operating Officer, commented that the additional agreement is a matter of pride, but also an obligation for the company. According to him, a team has been formed to deal with the new order.

The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bulgaria, His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Toman commented that the deal is good for both parties and that he was glad that it was a Czech company that would deliver mobility units that are much needed in Bulgaria.

Official contract signing ceremonies were absent during the tерм of former interim minister Georgi Gvozdeykov. For example, the signing of the contract for the delivery of locomotives with the Bulgarian company Express Service was announced with a press release featuring the minister’s photo - but notably, the contractor in question was absent. 

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov