Škoda Group unveils new metro train for Sofia
Eight four-car trains worth €66 million to boost capacity, comfort, and sustainability in Bulgaria’s capital.
www.skoda.cz
Škoda Group, a leading European supplier of zero-emission mobility solutions, today officially unveiled a four-car metro train for the Bulgarian capital Sofia at its production site in Pilsen. The train is part of a contract with the local operator Metropoliten EAD for the delivery of eight state-of-the-art metro trains.
The project builds on Škoda Group’s long tradition of supplying vehicles for public transport in Bulgaria – since 2010 the group has delivered 210 trolleybuses to five Bulgarian cities. It also represents an important step forward in cooperation between the Czech rail industry and Bulgaria in the field of public transport modernisation. The contract, worth nearly EUR 66 million (CZK 1.6 billion), covers the production of eight four-car metro train, which are being manufactured at Škoda Group’s sites in Pilsen and Ostrava.
“The unveiling of the new metro train shows that the project is progressing according to plan. The first vehicle will be transported to Sofia in November, and we aim to complete the entire order in the first half of next year. We are proud to contribute to the modernisation of public transport in the Bulgarian capital and to provide passengers with greater comfort and capacity thanks to the new metro trains,” said Zdeněk Sváta, Member of the Board of Directors and COO of Škoda Group.
The most modern metro trains from Škoda Group
Sofia’s metro carries around 400,000 passengers daily, and soon they will be able to travel on the new 80-metre metro trains built by Škoda Group. As the metro in Sofia partly operates above ground, the vehicle design has been adapted accordingly. The new vehicles will feature powerful air-conditioning tailored to the city’s warm climate, ensuring a comfortable ride even during the hottest summer months. Accessibility is guaranteed with two dedicated spaces for wheelchair users, offering barrier-free and convenient travel for all passengers.
The metro trains will be equipped with an automatic speed control system, which regulates speed and prevents vehicles from bunching too closely together, ensuring safe operation. They will be powered by three-phase asynchronous traction motors and feature regenerative braking, feeding recovered energy back into the grid. Sofia’s metro runs on the standard gauge of 1,435 mm and is powered by a third rail with a DC voltage of 750 ± 250 V. The new metro trains have a maximum design speed of 90 km/h.
Current production status and project timeline
- First metro: undergoing type and test runs at the Velim test circuit
- Second metro: completed and undergoing Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
- Third and fourth metro: currently in production
- Transport of the first metro to Sofia: planned for early November 2025
- Completion of all metro trains: expected March–April 2026
Comfort and sustainable urban mobility
Modern design and advanced technology ensure low energy consumption and reduced operating costs. Regenerative braking allows efficient energy use and lowers the environmental footprint of operations. With fully air-conditioned interiors, spacious walk-through cars and barrier-free access, the new trains will meet the highest standards of passenger comfort in urban transport.
Sofia Metro
Sofia’s metro, opened in 1998, is one of the youngest metro systems in Europe. It currently operates four lines with a network length of more than 52 km and over 50 stations. Carrying around 400,000 passengers every day, it is the backbone of public transport for the Bulgarian capital, home to 1.3 million residents. The new Škoda Group trains will be deployed primarily on lines 1, 2 and 4, helping to shorten intervals and offer greater capacity and significantly improved passenger comfort in air-conditioned cars adapted to local conditions.
Key technical parameters of the Sofia metro trains
- Train length: four-car set, approx. 80 m
- Maximum design speed: 90 km/h
- Power supply: 750 V DC from third rail
- Track gauge: 1,435 mm
- Traction: three-phase asynchronous motors with regenerative braking
- Air-conditioning: high-capacity system adapted to Sofia’s warm climate and partial above-ground operation
- Accessibility: barrier-free boarding, two spaces for wheelchair users
- Safety: automatic speed control and modern braking systems
- Capacity: more than 580 passengers (approx. 120 seated)
- Boarding: four double-leaf doors on each side of every car for quick passenger exchange
