April 26 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's transport ministry on Friday signed a 300.5 million levs ($164.7 million/153.6 million euro) contract with Polish manufacturer Stadler Polska for the delivery of seven double-deck zero-emission electric trains within 26 months.
The purchase, to be funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), includes an option for the delivery of three more trains if financing is secured by the end of the contract, the transport ministry said in a statement. Stadler Polska will also provide 15-year maintenance service and personnel training.
The rolling stock, of the KISS Series, will have a minimum capacity of 300 seats, with over 10% designed for passengers with reduced mobility. The trains will run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour and will be interoperable across the European railway network.
"The rolling stock, which will be delivered by 2026, meets all the requirements for comfort and environmental friendliness, which are the basis of the NRRP reforms," transport minister Georgi Gvozdeykov said.
Earlier this month, Bulgaria's transport ministry said it selected Stadler Polska for the project as the company met all requirements in a public procurement procedure launched in February.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)