Bulgarian State Railways (BDŽ) has started operating the first of ten new Smartron electric locomotives delivered by Siemens Mobility under a contract signed in December 2023.
Deliveries of all ten new locomotives are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, with the first unit arriving approximately 40 days ahead of the initial timeline.
This new order follows BDŽ's previous acquisition of 15 Smartron locomotives, also supplied by Siemens Mobility. These units have been in operation for several years under full maintenance agreements. Based on their operational performance, BDŽ proceeded with the procurement of an additional ten locomotives to further modernize its fleet.
The introduction of these locomotives is part of BDŽ's broader efforts to increase train availability on key national routes. The phased replacement of older locomotives with newer models is intended to support more reliable operations across the country’s rail network.
The Smartron locomotives, known for their standardized design and operational efficiency, are part of BDŽ’s ongoing fleet renewal strategy aimed at addressing aging rolling stock and aligning with current technical standards for electric traction units. Further deliveries will continue through 2025 as outlined in the contract terms.
