“The handover of the first trains and their upcoming entry into passenger service are key milestones for the project. Our modern, fully accessible metro trains are essential for the Sofia Metro, which serves hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. We are proud that our vehicles will contribute to further increasing its comfort, capacity, and reliability. The project also confirms the Škoda Group’s strong position in the field of modern, zero-emission solutions for urban mobility,” said Olesea Lachi, Vice President South & East Europe at the Škoda Group.

 “The Sofia Metro is the backbone of public transport in the Bulgarian capital, and the new trains will provide passengers not only with greater capacity but also a more modern and comfortable environment. For the Škoda Group, this is further proof that we are capable of delivering comprehensive solutions for major European cities—from design and production to the commissioning of the vehicles,” added Olesea Lachi.

 

The new trainsets are approximately 80 metres long, and each of them will offer capacity for more than 580 passengers, including approximately 120 seated passengers. Given the local warm climate and the fact that parts of the metro network operate above ground, the vehicles are equipped with high-performance air conditioning. Barrier-free access and two spaces for wheelchair users are also provided as standard. The trains have been designed with an emphasis on safety, reliability and energy efficiency. They are equipped with a train protection system featuring automatic speed regulation, which ensures safe operation on the route and prevents trains from catching up with one another. The units are powered by three-phase asynchronous traction motors and use regenerative braking, returning electrical energy back to the power supply network. The design speed of the new trainsets is 90 km/h.

Production of the trainsets is taking place at Škoda Group’s plants in Pilsen and Ostrava. The project envisages the delivery of a total of eight four-car trains, which will be gradually put into operation in Sofia. The new units are designed for the standard gauge of 1,435 mm and a 750 V DC third-rail power supply.

 

Sofia Metro

The Sofia Metro opened in 1998 and is one of the youngest metro systems in Europe. It currently has four lines with a total network length of more than 52 kilometres and more than 50 stations. It carries approximately 400,000 passengers per day and is a key element of public transport in the metropolitan area of the Bulgarian capital, which has more than 1.3 million inhabitants.

 

Main technical parameters of the new Sofia Metro trainsets

 

Parameter                                Specification

 

• Trainset length                         Four-car unit, approx. 80 m
• Maximum design speed 90 km/h
• Power supply                         750 V DC from third rail
• Gauge                                     1,435 mm
• Traction                         Three-phase asynchronous motors with regenerative braking
• Air conditioning High-performance air conditioning adapted to Sofia’s warm climate and

partial above-ground operation

• Accessibility                         Barrier-free boarding, two spaces for wheelchair users
• Safety systems Automatic speed regulation and modern braking systems
• Capacity                         More than 580 passengers, including approx. 120 seated passengers
• Boarding and alighting             Four double-leaf doors on each side of each car for rapid passenger

exchange

 

Škoda Group strengthens its presence in Bulgaria

The delivery of metro trainsets for Sofia is by no means the first project through which Škoda Group has contributed to the modernisation of transport in Bulgaria. In the past, the Czech manufacturer has delivered, for example, 210 trolleybuses to five Bulgarian cities.

The company is currently producing 25 four-car electric multiple units for the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications, intended for suburban and regional operation on the Bulgarian railway network. The first two units, based on the successful RegioPanter platform, were officially presented in Sofia in March 2026 and began testing on Bulgarian infrastructure. The contract, worth more than half a billion euros, also includes 15 years of comprehensive servicing provided directly in Bulgaria.

Škoda Group has also recently won two contracts for the delivery of 75 new trolleybuses for Sofia. This further strengthens its role as an important partner in the modernisation of public transport in Bulgaria and across the wider South-East European region.