site.btaTwo More Alstom Electric Trains Begin Operating in Bulgaria

Two more new Alstom electric trains, delivered to Bulgaria under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), enter service on Saturday, Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) said. They will operate on the Sofia-Vidin and Vidin-Sofia routes, as well as between Sofia and Burgas in both directions.

The first two delivered Alstom electric multiple units entered service on September 1. They operate passenger services on the Plovdiv-Svilengrad, Plovdiv-Asenovgrad, Svilengrad-Sofia and Sofia-Pernik routes.

With the latest additions, the number of new Alstom units in service rises to four. They are named after the Bulgarian rivers Danube, Maritsa, Iskar and Struma.

BDZ said the new Alstom Coradia Stream trains were delivered under a contract signed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications with the BULEMU consortium, financed under Bulgaria’s RRP. The contract provides for the delivery of 35 single-deck, zero-emission electric multiple units and their maintenance for a period of 15 years.

Each trainset consists of six cars and has a total of 325 first- and second-class seats. The low-floor design provides easier access, while special ramps allow use by passengers with reduced mobility. Space is also provided for bicycles and baby strollers, along with luggage racks.

The trains are equipped with air conditioning, a passenger information system with audio announcements and dynamic visual displays, power outlets and USB ports for charging electronic devices and electric bicycles. Wireless internet connectivity is also provided for.

Other equipment includes video surveillance, security systems and a digital passenger-counting system using highly sensitive sensors.

Each of the new trainsets will be named after a river, waterfall or spring in Bulgaria. All units carry a QR code which, when scanned with a mobile device, provides access to a specially created series titled "Rivers, Waterfalls and Springs in Bulgaria", where passengers can learn more about the respective natural landmarks.

The first two delivered Alstom electric multiple units entered service on September 1. They operate passenger services on the Plovdiv-Svilengrad, Plovdiv-Asenovgrad, Svilengrad-Sofia and Sofia-Pernik routes.