The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria has ordered seven zero-emission KISS double-decker trains from Stadler. This marks Stadler’s first order in the Bulgarian market.
The contract also includes comprehensive maintenance services for a period of 15 years and specialised training for the operator’s personnel. In addition, it provides the option to order three additional vehicles at a later date.
The newly ordered KISS trains have a top speed of 160 km/h and can accommodate a minimum of 300 passengers.
The first vehicle is expected to be delivered to the operator within 26 months to commence the modernisation Bulgaria’s rail fleet.
“The contract we are signing today is the first order for new trains in Bulgaria in 20 years. With the procurement of state-of-the-art zero-emission double-decker vehicles from Stadler, we will not only significantly improve the comfort of rail transport for our passengers, but above all make a significant contribution to the realisation of current sustainable mobility goals. This is currently an extremely important challenge for European countries. Together with the manufacturer that won the public tender, we will ensure the efficient operation of new vehicles for many years to come.”
The KISS double-decker trains are engineered for seamless operation on a 1435 mm track gauge and are equipped with a 25 kV/50 Hz power supply system.
They will be manufactured at the Stadler Polska plant in Siedlce.
“We are proud that we were able to sign the contract for the delivery of our KISS trains with the Bulgarian Ministry today. The vehicles set new standards in terms of performance, reliability, safety, comfort and state-of-the-art technology. We are convinced that they will make a significant contribution to improving public transport in Bulgaria. We also hope to continue the partnership we have started with further rail vehicle replacement projects in Bulgaria.”
With this latest deal, Stadler’s vehicles will soon be operational in 48 countries.
