Škoda Group has finished production of the first electric multiple unit ordered by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications. The train is part of a contract for 25 units signed in September 2024 and valued at just over EUR 520 million.
The unit is a four-car EMU based on the RegioPanter platform, adapted to Bulgarian operational and passenger requirements. Adjustments include a customised interior layout, modified passenger information systems and integrated signalling and safety equipment. Production involved several Škoda Group sites.
The manufacturer states that completing the first train in 14 months was made possible by coordinated work across its engineering and production teams. The company is currently producing another eleven units, which are reported to be at an advanced stage.
The new trains will offer more than 300 seats and a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h.
Škoda Group will also provide 15 years of maintenance from a newly leased depot in Bulgaria. The Czech manufacturer is already active in the country with metro train production for Sofia.
The Bulgarian fleet renewal programme aims to replace older vehicles with trains that meet European interoperability and safety standards while reducing energy consumption and operating costs. The order also marks Škoda’s first major rolling stock delivery to Bulgaria in several decades.
