Bulgaria: Alstom Coradia Stream Trains Enter Service for BDZ

BDZ has announced the service entry of a set of two Alstom Coradia Stream trains.

The new trains have now entered passenger service on a set of three routes: Plovdiv – Svilengrad, Plovdiv – Asenovgrad, Svilengrad – Sofia and Sofia – Pernik.

The first of an order of 35 single-deck zero-emission electric multiple units, the new Alstom Coradia Stream trains were delivered under a contract signed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications with the BULEMU consortium, with funds from the Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Each train consists of 6 carriages and features a total of 325 seats across first and second class, with the low-floor design aiming to ensure easy access and special ramps allowing the use of trains by people with reduced mobility.

The trains also possess dedicated spaces for bicycles and strollers, as well as spacious luggage racks, air conditioning, a modern passenger information system with audio announcements and dynamic visual displays, electrical outlets and USB ports for charging electronic devices and electric bicycles.

Additionally, the trains are equipped with an ETCS system for objective control of the locomotive driver’s work and a system for safe movement on the railway infrastructure of Bulgaria, allowing the trains to reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

As well as providing the units – all of which will be named after a river, waterfall or spring in Bulgaria – themselves, Alstom will also be responsible for maintaining them for the next 15 years.