Czech Republic: A four-car trainset has been presented at the company’s factory in Plzeň.
This is the second train produced at the site, following the first unit that has been undergoing tests at the VUZ test centre in Velim since the summer (see for details). Both trains are scheduled to be delivered to the Bulgarian capital in November.
Interior of the Škoda Group metro train for Sofia. Source: Škoda Group
Each 80 m-long through-access train can accommodate up to 580 passengers, including 120 seated and two wheelchair spaces. Boarding and alighting are provided through four double-leaf doors on each side of the car. The train operates from a 750 V DC third rail and is equipped with three-phase asynchronous traction motors, regenerative braking, and automatic speed control.
The €65 mln contract for eight trains was signed in summer 2023. Entry into service on Sofia Metro lines 1, 2 and 4 is planned for 2026. Previously, trains for these lines were supplied by the TMH plant in Mytishchi, but the Russian manufacturer was excluded from the tender due to EU sanctions.
