Bulgaria buys 35 EMUs for state railways

A contract for the purchase of 35 electric multiple units (EMUs) has been signed at the Council of Ministers. This is the largest order placed by the Bulgarian state in the last 20 years and the largest investment in rolling stock, announced Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov, who signed the contract. The deal is worth almost half a billion euros, with part of the funding coming from the EU's Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The EMUs will consist of 6 carriages with seating for 351 passengers, including 51 seats in first class. "With this investment, we hope to meet almost two-thirds of the Bulgarian State Railways' need for new train fleet to make rail transport more attractive and safer," the minister said. The first 12 trains are expected to arrive in August 2025. Under the terms of the contract, Alstom Group will maintain the units for 15 years.