THE first two of the 25 EMUs that Škoda Group is supplying to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport and Communications are due to begin testing on the national network this week. This follows the official presentation of the first train in Bulgaria on March 20 after the completion of dynamic and safety testing in the Czech Republic.
Škoda has completed the first two trains 14 months after signing a contract that it says is worth over €500m, including maintenance in Bulgaria over a period of 15 years. The manufacturer says adapting its RegioPanter platform for commuter and regional services in Bulgaria has included a newly designed interior, installing new onboard signalling equipment including ETCS Level 2, and providing additional safety features.
Each four-car 25kV 50Hz ac EMU has over 300 seats and a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The partially low-floor design provides level boarding for all passengers, including those with reduced mobility.
The first two trains will now undergo further certification and preparation for entry into service, a process that is expected to take several months to complete.
“Placing the first two trains on Bulgarian tracks and launching their approval process represents a major milestone in overall project implementation,” says Škoda Group CEO, Petr Novotný.
“The production of the remaining trains continues according to schedule, and we remain in close cooperation with our Bulgarian partners to ensure the timely delivery of the entire fleet.”
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