Bulgarian state operator BDŽ has commissioned three additional Smartron electric locomotives into service.
The ten-unit procurement, handled by DZZD Siemens Tron, covers the production, delivery, and warranty maintenance of Smartron locomotives. Smartron is a derivative of the Siemens Vectron platform with simplified equipment and specifications tailored to individual markets. Apart from Bulgaria, Romania and Germany are the countries where this locomotive variant is in operation.
This contract builds on earlier acquisitions by BDŽ, which previously procured fifteen Smartron units. The three newly introduced locomotives continue that series, bringing the combined BDŽ Smartron fleet to 21 units to date.
Part of ongoing fleet renewal
The current contract is part of BDŽ’s broader programme to phase out older rolling stock and update its traction fleet for passenger services, including new EMUs. The new locomotives are intended for operation on key domestic routes, contributing to efforts to raise reliability across the timetable. The Smartron support electric operation under 25 kV AC, a standard in Bulgaria’s electrified network.
