Grozdan Karadzhov: The railway depots in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Gorna Oryahovitsa will be the main bases for maintenance of the new trains
The railway depots in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Gorna Oryahovitsa will serve as the main bases for daily maintenance and storage of the 60 new trainsets manufactured by Škoda and Alstom, expected to arrive in Bulgaria next year.
This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov during a visit to the BDZ–Passenger Services depots in Ruse, Gorna Oryahovitsa, and Mezdra.
“By the time the new trains are delivered, we must have secured reliable locations for their storage and maintenance. Without modern operational bases, the new rolling stock will be at risk of faster wear and vandalism, ”
Karadzhov emphasized.
He reminded that the BDZ depots were built more than 60 years ago and have not been modernized since. In their current state, they do not meet the requirements for servicing the new electric trainsets.
“Despite the outdated infrastructure, BDZ–Passenger Services personnel have accumulated valuable experience and skills, which will form the foundation of the new model for operational maintenance. The buildings and machinery may be in poor condition, but the railway spirit lives on in the hearts and souls of BDZ workers, ”
he added.
Karadzhov pointed out that the existing workshops are too short, lacking train washing machines and vacuum systems for cleaning toilets, while less than six months remain before deliveries of the new trains begin.
“We must urgently start the renovation and expansion of the depots to match the size and technological requirements of the new trains, ”
the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
He noted that he will push for the 2026 state budget to include funds not only for the three main depots — Sofia, Plovdiv, and Gorna Oryahovitsa — but also for five auxiliary operational points to service passenger trains at the end stations of their routes — in Vidin, Ruse, Varna, Burgas, and Sofia.
“Without adequate conditions for maintenance and protection of the new rolling stock, we risk wasting an investment of almost two billion leva. We must act immediately, ”
Karadzhov concluded firmly.
