KISS first contract awarded in Bulgaria

On 26 April 2024, Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria and Stadler have signed a contract for the delivery of seven KISS EMUs. The contract signed in Sofia also includes an option for three additional units, 15 years of fleet maintenance and training for the BDZ's staff. This is Stadler's first order in Bulgaria and another significant sales success in the Balkans: with this contract, Stadler vehicles will be operating in 48 countries, and a total of around 630 KISSes have been sold worldwide.

The Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgi Gvozdeykov, explained that the procurement of new trains is the answer to the need to replace the existing rolling stock and is related to the realisation of the country's sustainable mobility goals: "The contract we are signing today is the first order for new trains in Bulgaria in 20 years. Together with the manufacturer that won the public tender, we will ensure the efficient operation of new vehicles for many years to come."

The 25 kV 50 Hz four-car trains with a maximum speed of 160 km/h will have a capacity of at least 300 seats. The first KISS is to be delivered within 26 months of the contract being signed. The batch for Bulgaria will be built at the Stadler Polska plant in Siedlce.