Three new electric locomotives Siemens Smartron are entering service as of today, Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov has announced. Two of them will be running along the Sofia-Burgas line, and one – along the Sofia-Russe line.

The new locomotives are more reliable and energy efficient as during coast down they return electricity back to the grid. They will be equipped with the most modern safety system, the European Train Control System-ETCS.

“This is a happy time for the modernization of Bulgaria’s railways. We expect one more by Christmas which will mean we will have covered 100% of all fast trains in the country,” Minister Kardjov said, as quoted by the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

The locomotives bear the names of Bulgarian revolutionaries Zahari Stoyanov, Georgi Ikonomov and Boris Kolchev. Each one of them will have a QR code installed which passengers can use to learn more about the people they have been named after.

Bulgarian State Railways need another 80 carriages, as well as 15 new long-distance compositions, Gtozdan Karadjov stated.

Edited by Diana Tsankova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: BTA