Škoda Group has won a €65 million contract to manufacture and supply eight metro trains to Metropoliten EAD for use on lines 1, 2 in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
The four-car trains will be manufactured at the group’s production sites in Ostrava and Pilsen. They will be similar to trains already delivered to the Polish capital Warsaw but with the addition of air conditioning. Delivery will be during 2026.
Zdeněk Sváta, president Region Central East of Škoda Group’s Central East region, said: “We are very proud to deliver new, modern, and spacious metro trains to the people of Sofia. After Warsaw in Poland, the Bulgarian capital is the next destination for our metro. We have extensive experience with the metro, having previously modernised the Prague metro and supplied complete traction equipment for the subways in Kiev, Budapest and also in South Korea.
“I am confident that, based on this cooperation, we will establish a strong relationship with Metropoliten EAD that will support the future development of Sofia’s public transport system. I strongly believe that the Sofia metro trains will exceed expectations and further strengthen our reputation as a reliable partner in urban mobility solutions.”
The Sofia metro carries more than one million passengers a day. Part of the route is above ground, which is why air conditioning has been added to the design to combat hot summer temperatures.
Each train will also include provision for two wheelchairs.
Stoyan Braotev, executive director of Metropoliten EAD, commented: “The opening of the new metro station, located between Slivnica and Obelia stations, will shorten the running interval of trains on the second metro line, which is necessary due to the increased passenger flow during peak hours. This, together with the necessary partial reduction of peak intervals on lines 1 and 4, will be made possible by the eight new trains.
“To ensure the future efficient operation of lines 1, 2 and 4, it is expected that the start of operation of the new station will take place simultaneously with the delivery of the new trains from Škoda.”
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