Bulgaria: The Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications calls for bids for BGN 2.8 bln VAT excluded (€1.4 bln). Winners of four tenders will be expected to supply 35 single-deck and 7 double-deck EMUs, 20 push-pull trains, and 18 shunting locomotives, train staff, and ensure 15-year maintenance. Finalisation is scheduled for June and July, and the rolling stock delivery is expected in 2–3 years.
All the purchases will be funded by the EU under the Recovery and resilience plan for Bulgaria adopted last year and by the country’s budget. The future owner of the new rolling stock, the Ministry of Transport, will lease it to the national operator BDZ under a passenger servicing contract.
Consulting on the tenders was completed back in July last year, and according to the Ministry, 32 companies submitted their bids. Together with global giants like CRRC, Alstom, Siemens Mobility, Stadler Rail, CAF, and Hyundai Rotem, Spanish Talgo, Czech Skoda and CZ Loko, Polish Pesa and FPS, Croatian Koncar, Bulgarian Express Service and Vossloh Locomotives (part of CRRC) decided to compete.
The largest tender is worth more than BGN 1.2 bln VAT excluded (€613.6 mln). Its winner is expected to deliver 20 push-pull trains designed for a maximum speed of 200 km/h. In addition to a locomotive and a staff coach, half of the trains will have at least four intermediate coaches and 300 seats, and the other ten will have at least five intermediate coaches and at least 360 seats. It is emphasised that a minimum of 10% of seats should be adapted for disabled passengers. Entrance doors will have an automatic passenger counting system to provide statistical data to a central communication server. The rolling stock is required to allow multiple-unit operation of two trainsets (minimum 12 coaches).
Two tenders provide for supplying EMUs for the suburban service. The largest of these worth more than BGN 1.1 bln VAT excluded (€562.4 mln) is for the supply of 35 single-deck EMUs. The technical specifications require a maximum speed of 160 km/h and at least 200 seats. Under the other tender, seven double-deck EMUs will be delivered for BGN 410.5 mln VAT excluded (€209.6 mln). With a maximum speed of up to 160 km/h, these will accommodate at least 300 seated passengers. The winner of the fourth tender is expected to supply 18 electric shunting locomotives for about BGN 93 mln VAT excluded (€47.5 mln).
