BDZ Recent Tendering Development

BDZ has announced several tenders in recent months. In the tender for new locomotives, Smartrons were ordered in May. Now, BDZ informed us about the progress with other tenders.

A Lease Of Electric Locomotives

On 3 April 2020, BDZ PP (Pyatnicheski prevozi, Passengers Services) announced a tender for the lease of five electric locomotives for a period of 24 months, with an option for another five and with a possible extension of the lease by 12 months. The expected value of the contract is 25,688,200 BGN (aroud 14.5 million EUR) and also includes, among other things, the training of 50 drivers and 10 maintenance technicians. Four-axle locomotives for passenger transport with a maximum speed of at least 140 km/h and an output of at least 5 MW, for operation on 25 kV 50 Hz and manufactured after 1995 are required.

The deadline for applications was 18 May 2020 and five bidders showed interest: S Rail Lease, ELL Germany (together with Siemens Mobility Austria and also Rejls'rviztron as a subcontractor), RIVE Rail Leasing, Railpool and Jubeks - B'lgaria. The latter is a trading company and takes part in cooperation with MRCE. RIVE Rail Leasing was excluded for not meeting the tender conditions.

These locomotives are intended as a medium-term measure to improve the reliability of operation, as the existing locomotives already show a considerable failure rate. For this reason, BDZ PP is currently hiring (with a daily rate of around 1,300 EUR) a locomotive 86 014 of the former DSB Class EA 3000 from the DB Cargo Bulgaria.

The New EMUs

On 3 January 2020 BDZ PP has announced a public procurement for up to 16 new EMUs, designed to serve fast/inter-city long distance trains for trips over three hours. On 1 June 2020, BDZ announced that three bidders had applied to take part in the procedure: the STB Trains consortium (Siemens Mobility Austria and Siemens Mobility), Alstom Ferroviaria and the „STADLER consortium“ (Stadler Polska, Stadler Bussnang and Stadler Service).

On 15 July 2020 BDZ told us: "Currently, the first stage of the pre-selection has been completed for both the locomotives rental procedure and the procedure for delivery of new EMUs. The candidates who will be invited to submit tenders and to participate in the negotiation have been selected.

Regarding the procedure for delivery of new EMUs, a complaint was filed by one of the participants and proceedings are currently expected to be initiated by the Commission for Protection of Competition. The complaint does not request the suspension of the procedure. The deadline for submitting bids is 10 August 2020.

Regarding the locomotive rental procedure, invitations were sent to the selected candidates to submit initial tenders. The deadline for submitting bids is 17 July 2020."

The New Coaches

On 20 December 2019 BDZ PP announced that the Polish and Romanian rolling stock manufacturers, H. Cegielski - Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych and Astra Vagoane Calatori, have applied to participate in an invitation to tender „Production and supply of 40 new passenger cars of 1 435 mm track gauge for BDZ PP“.

On 15 July 2020 BDZ told us: "Procedures for new passenger cars will not be announced for the time being, because BDZ has already concluded contracts for repair of its older coaches, which will provide the stock now necessary to perform the services."