The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov attended the signing of a contract, which took place on 21 May 2020, between the management board of BDZ and Siemens Tron for the supply of 10 new electric locomotives.

“By signing this contract, BDZ will ensure the delivery of new locomotives for the first time since 1986-1987. This is also the first serious investment in the renewal of the company's rolling stock in 15 years, when Siemens wagons were delivered in the period 2005-2008”, the Minister said.

The contract covers the delivery of 10 Siemens Smartron locomotives, their maintenance and supply of all necessary spare parts and other consumables for a period of 3 years and running distance of 600 thousand km, as well as transport, insurance and putting into service. The warranty period for the maintenance of the locomotives has been increased to 36 months, while training of the repair and maintenance staff of BDZ will be conducted to ensure the long-term maintenance of the locomotives in the past-warranty period.

The supply of the first locomotive will have been made by the end of February 2021, and all ten locomotives are planned to be delivered by the end of May 2021.

Siemens Mobility developed the Smartron as a single-specification design to offer freight operators a lower purchase price and faster delivery than its configurable Vectron family; 13 customers have ordered the type since it was launched in early 2018.

The 25-kV 50-Hz locomotives for BDZ will be delivered in the Smartron’s standard Capri Blue livery, then branded locally to the operator’s specifications.