Škoda Delivers 20 New Trains for Passenger Service in Bulgaria

Škoda Group has completed the delivery of 20 four-car electric trains for suburban and regional services in Bulgaria. The first units began carrying passengers on 14 August, less than two years after the contract was signed.

All 20 trains were handed over to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport and Communications on 5 August. After completing tests on the local railway network, the units received vehicle type approval and authorisation for placing on the Bulgarian market from the national railway authority IAJA.

On 7 August, all trains were entered into the European Vehicle Register. Preparations for passenger service began three days later, including empty test runs on selected routes. Passenger operations started gradually from 14 August.

Škoda Completes EUR 500 Million Bulgarian Rail Contract

The delivery is a milestone in one of Škoda Group’s largest railway projects in South-East Europe in recent years. The contract covers 20 electric multiple units, an option for additional trains and 15 years of maintenance in Bulgaria. Its total value is around EUR 500 million.

The first two trains were officially presented in Sofia in March 2026 before starting tests on the Bulgarian network. Škoda committed to delivering the entire fleet within 24 months of signing the contract. The company completed the delivery on schedule, with the first trains entering passenger service after 23 months.

According to Škoda, the timetable was made possible by close cooperation between its engineering, manufacturing, quality and project teams and the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Trains Adapted for the Bulgarian Railway Network

"We adapted the units to the specific requirements of the customer and to the conditions of the Bulgarian railway network," said Olesea Lachi, Vice President South & East Europe at Škoda Group, "We are pleased that they can now begin serving passengers and contribute to the further development of public transport in Bulgaria."

She added that modern rolling stock is one of the reasons rail is regaining a stronger position in European transport. "This project therefore has great importance. At the same time, it confirms that Czech technologies can play an important role in improving public transport not only in Bulgaria, but across South-East Europe."

New RegioPanter Trains Reach 160 km/h

The four-car electric units are based on Škoda’s RegioPanter platform, which is already in service in several European countries, including Czechia, Slovakia, Latvia and Estonia. For Bulgaria, the trains were adapted to local requirements, including the exterior design, interior layout, passenger information system and the integration of signalling and other safety equipment.

Each unit offers more than 300 seats and a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h. The trains use the 25 kV AC, 50 Hz traction system and are equipped with ETCS Level 2. Passengers will also have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, ergonomic seats and CCTV inside and outside the train.

The partly low-floor design is intended to make boarding easier, while multifunctional areas provide space for passengers with reduced mobility, parents with pushchairs and cyclists. "New electric trains are an important step in modernising Bulgaria’s railway fleet," Lachi said. "They will provide passengers with a higher level of comfort, safety and accessibility, while creating the conditions for more reliable and attractive regional and suburban transport."

She added that Škoda’s role will continue long after the trains enter service: "Škoda Group is not only the manufacturer and supplier of the trains, but also a partner that will maintain them for 15 years. Long-term service cooperation will ensure high operational reliability and stable and predictable maintenance costs."

Main Technical Specifications

• Configuration: four-car electric multiple unit
• Maximum speed: 160 km/h
• Capacity: more than 300 seats
• Power supply: 25 kV AC / 50 Hz
• Signalling: ETCS Level 2
• Passenger equipment: air conditioning and Wi-Fi
• CCTV: interior and exterior
• Accessibility: partly low-floor design
• Multifunctional areas: for passengers with reduced mobility, pushchairs and bicycles

The new fleet should improve the quality of regional and suburban rail services in Bulgaria and offer passengers a more attractive alternative to travelling by car and, because the trains are fully electric, they will also support the country’s move towards more energy-efficient and zero-emission public transport.