Sofia low-floor trams tender opens with 40-tram bid

Sofia low-floor trams tender has moved into a new phase as the city’s municipal electric transport operator, Stolichen Elektrotransport, starts procurement for a major fleet refresh, as reported by Railway Pro.

Meanwhile, the company is seeking 40 100% low-floor trams in a package valued at about EUR 100 million. At the same time, a further 38 vehicles are being tendered, taking the planned total to 78.

Sofia low-floor trams tender and the 78-tram plan

Stolichen Elektrotransport says the new purchase process is designed to accelerate the renewal of Sofia’s electric transport fleet over the coming years.

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In addition, the operator’s procurement work now covers both tram and trolleybus programmes, tying the tram orders to other fleet measures already underway. Alongside the tram tenders, the company has also signed a contract to buy 75 new trolleybuses, reinforcing the broader modernisation track.

The operator links the trams programme to a Sofia City Council decision adopted in 2024, according to director Evgheni Ganchev. The stated aim is to withdraw the oldest trams still used on certain lines—vehicles dating back to the socialist era. Also, the same resolution set procurement directions for the city’s bus transport company, alongside the steps taken by Stolichen Elektrotransport.

Loans, council decisions and the EUR 200 million mandate

Financing for the new vehicles is planned through loans, the company says. Still, the municipality has not yet completed the final structure of the arrangement. The borrowing approach is connected to later City Council actions, which pushed the financing process forward as the fleet-renewal plans expanded.

In autumn 2025, the Sofia City Council mandated Mayor Vasil Terziev to select a bank to secure a EUR 200 million loan to fund the new vehicles. Separately, City Hall representatives have said they are in discussions with the European Investment Bank and are also reviewing other financing options, as noted by Capital.bg. The goal is to identify the most efficient solution to support the modernisation programme.

Sofia’s tram network and earlier Pesa Swing trams

Sofia’s tram network spans around 308 km and includes 17 lines serving the Bulgarian capital. The city’s rolling stock totals roughly 314 trams, with about 174 in daily operation and the remainder kept as reserves in depots.

The capital has also expanded its fleet through previous orders with Pesa Bydgoszcz. For example, in 2021, the Polish manufacturer and the capital’s public transport operator signed a contract for 25 additional Swing trams, as previously covered by Railway Supply. Under three earlier contracts, Pesa had already delivered 37 Swing trams to Sofia.

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