BULGARIA: Sofia operator Elektrotransport has ordered 25 Swing trams from Pesa Bydgoszcz, the Polish manufacturer’s fourth order from the city.
They are to be delivered in 2023, taking the city’s Pesa fleet to 62 of the Swing design. The latest batch of 1 009 mm gauge trams will be similar to vehicles supplied previously, comprising 30 m long five-section low-floor cars with 41 seats and 160 standing places, air-conditioning and facilities for visually impaired and less mobile passengers.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic the contract was signed by post, with the final signatures on November 18.
Pesa had been selected for the contract in July 2020, but subsequent appeals delayed finalisation of the order, and Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs engaged in dialogue with the Bulgarian side.
‘In line with our strategy, we are consistently strengthening our position on the tram market in central and eastern Europe’, said Pesa CEO Krzysztof Zdziarski. ’Co-operation with Elektrotransport has been going very well for years, so I am glad that Sofia has once again chosen our trams.’
