For many Bulgarians, the identify “Skoda” is related to vehicles. However the principle successor of the only based in 1866. within the Czech town of Pilsen, an organization from Emil Škoda produces locomotives, trains, trams and trolleys.
It used to be Škoda Crew, a part of which might be Škoda Transportation and its subsidiary Škoda Vagonka, that entered the Bulgarian marketplace headlong within the coming yr with orders for approximately BGN 1.2 billion (600 million euros).
The landlord of “Skoda Crew” is the fund PPF Crew since 2018. Till 3 years in the past, it used to be owned through the deceased billionaire Petr Kellner, and as of late it’s controlled through his spouse Renata. In Bulgaria, the fund is the landlord of bTV tv and has a percentage within the cell operator “Yettel”, and within the subsequent 3 years it is going to grow to be much more recognizable with the brand new trains for the railways, the metropolitan metro and perhaps trams.
The upward push of “Skoda Crew” within the Bulgarian marketplace is because of the failure of the Polish department of the Swiss corporate “Stadler”, which gained the orders for the availability of seven double-decker trains and 35 motor vehicles, however then unusually deserted them with out rationalization.
Orders for 600 mln. euro
So the Czech workforce became out to be the savior for brand spanking new rolling inventory with Eu finances for the Bulgarian railwayswho have not had one in two decades. Till the start of September 2026. it is going to ship 25 motor trains for 639.25 mln. BGN with out VAT. Those may also be the one new trains purchased with Restoration and Resilience Plan cash after different orders failed. That is exactly the instance for Mediapool to speak to the CEO of “Skoda Crew” Petr Novotny.
The contract for the availability of recent trains between “Skoda” and Bulgaria used to be signed through Petr Novotni and the Minister of Delivery Krasimira Stoyanova at first of September Sn. Council of Ministers
“The contract for the availability of 25 new locomotives is our first challenge for the Bulgarian marketplace in our fashionable historical past. Greater than 50 years in the past we equipped locomotives to the Bulgarian marketplace. So we will be able to say that we have got a long-term courting with this gorgeous nation, and now with this order we will be able to solidify this tale much more”he commented.
Through the way in which, the outdated Czech locomotives are nonetheless running and saving BDZ in tough scenarios. In the summertime, if it were not for them, there can be nobody to tug the second-hand German wagons purchased. And if 50-60 years in the past “Skoda” equipped handiest locomotives, now it is going to provide no longer handiest trains for the state railways, but in addition locomotives for the metro.
“Skoda Transportation” gained the order for the availability of 8 trains for the metro for 134 million. BGN with out VAT. “Paintings at the new metro trains is progressing. We’ve already completed welding and portray the primary frame”Novotny stated. In step with the contract, the length for the manufacturing of the 8 locomotives is 3 years and so they must be delivered in 2026. They’ll be used at the first, moment and fourth traces of the metropolitan metro.
Now “Skoda Crew” is eagerly waiting for the result of the second one smooth for 8 extra metro trains for 139.36 million. BGN It’s virtually sure that it wins as a result of it’s the handiest candidate and the corporate has already effectively handed each the technical section and the fee proposal.
One after the other, there may be the try to make a leap forward in provides and trams. In 2017 “Skoda Transportation” gained the smooth of the Sofia Municipality for the availability of 13 low-floor trams for 46.3 million. BGN., which have been meant to transport alongside the road of “The 5”. However after an attraction of the process through the dropping candidate “PESA”, the courtroom dominated in want of the Polish corporate. Now there may be every other smooth for the acquisition of 18 trams for 98 million. BGN, by which the Czechs intend to take part once more.
“We strongly consider that Škoda Crew will win extra contracts in tenders by which it participates in Bulgaria”kaza Petr Novotny.
Experts within the business commented to Mediapool that “Skoda Transportation” is implementing itself at the Bulgarian marketplace with aggressive costs, top quality and supply of cars on time. The truth that the corporate has massive orders for Poland, Germany, Finland speaks volumes for the standard of its manufacturing.
Since 2010 up to now “Skoda Transportation” has delivered 210 new trolleybuses for public delivery in Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora and Pleven for approximately BGN 200 million.
The brand new trains
“The brand new 25 trains, which is able to arrive in Bulgaria in two years, are in keeping with the well known RegioPanter fashion. Every teach is composed of four-car electrical locomotives. Complete provider provision for a length of 15 years is integrated. And for this era, the full price of the contract exceeds part a thousand million euros”identified Petr Novotny.
Every of the motors may have a minimum of 300 seats. Which means that Bulgaria can be expecting over 7,500 new seats in fashionable trains. They increase most pace of 160 km/h and are able for operation traces with electrification 25 kV AC 50 Hz.
Passengers will have the ability to get pleasure from ergonomic seats, air-conditioned interiors and Wi-Fi connectivity within the carriages.
Safety can be enhanced due to a sophisticated digicam machine on each the outside and inside of the trains.
For speedy, secure and relaxed boarding and disembarking, the motor vehicles may have low-floor entrances and 1500 mm huge doorways.
The cars may even have practical spaces for other folks with disabilities, prams or bicycles.
The locomotives can be provided with the ETCS stage 2 machine, which promises the very best protection necessities in response to Eu requirements, Petr Novotny stated.
Group of workers coaching
To ensure that the brand new Škoda trains to run, it is very important have well-trained Bulgarian staff who no longer handiest arrange them, but in addition take care of them. That is extraordinarily essential to believe the provider lifetime of the trains – a minimum of 40 yearsfamous Novotny.
The Bulgarian truth displays that they may be able to be used for greater than part a century. It is for that reason that workforce coaching is enshrined within the phrases of the contract, at the side of the assured 15-year repairs of Czech trains.
“The precise selection of staff that can be educated through Škoda for the commissioning of the trains is determined by the client’s necessities. For repairs functions, we will be able to create roughly 50 new jobs in Bulgaria“stated Petr Novotny. He added that the primary of them can be employed in 2025, when the manufacturing of the trains may even start. Maximum positions can be for mechanics and technicians.
“The learning will get started at our major manufacturing base within the Czech town of Pilsen after which proceed in Bulgaria. The learning can be long-term, as applied sciences are creating hastily and repeatedly converting. So Bulgaria may have essential expertise in rail delivery”feedback Petr Novotny.
“Skoda Crew” does no longer but have its consultant place of work in Bulgaria, however it’s already searching for appropriate spaces.
Manufacturing of “Skoda Crew”
In 2023 Skoda Crew produced a complete of 400 cars, which is a rise of 88% year-on-year. One automobile method one teach vehicle, one subway vehicle, tram, trolleybus or bus.
The corporate has a complete of 7 manufacturing bases. Trains are produced in 4 of them – 3 within the Czech Republic and one in Finland.
“On the other hand, many of the vegetation don’t center of attention handiest on teach manufacturing. In addition they produce subway vehicles and different cars. You will need to notice that lots of our different manufacturing websites are concerned within the teach building procedure. As an example, our moment plant in Pilsen produces electric apparatus this is put in in our electrical cars, corresponding to motors and converters for instance”Petr Novotny defined.
General in Skoda Crew factories make use of about 10,000 staff. The corporate additionally invests in analysis and building – 85.5 million euros for 2023.
This yr is shaping as much as be a file for the gang in the case of signed contracts. “Except Bulgaria, we signed contracts for 15 battery trains for České dráhy23 electrical trains for the non-public operator RegioJetextension of Tampere trams, new contracts for electric apparatus for trolleybuses in addition to for brand spanking new trolleybuses”kaza Petr Novotny.
The longest SUV on the earth is produced through Skoda Crew. It has a period of 58.61 meters, can elevate as much as 368 passengers and develops a pace of 80 km/h. The tram used to be introduced a couple of days in the past and covers 3 German towns – Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg. Sn. rnv GmbH
The top of “Skoda Crew” additionally famous the massive contracts on which the corporate is these days running. They’re amongst them 200 low-floor trams for the Czech capital Praguein addition to trams for 8 German towns, incl the longest tram on the earthwhich is nearly 60 meters. Petr Novotny proudly identified that “Skoda Crew” is “the biggest producer of 1000 mm gauge trams for German towns“.
As well as, “Skoda Crew” provides trains for Latvia And Estonia. Manufacturing will start quickly trams to the Italian town of Bergamo. They proceed with the supply of trams for the Finnish capital Helsinki and Tampere, Novotni experiences.
And the corporate’s monetary effects discuss volumes. During the last 3 years, Skoda Crew has noticed vital enlargement in earnings and new orders. For the primary part of 2024 turnover amounted to 670 million euros, an build up of 16% year-on-year. The Czech corporate additionally gained orders for 792 million euros – a enlargement of 161% year-on-year. For the previous 2023 Škoda Crew’s revenues amounted to one.38 billion euroswhich is a rise of 81% year-on-year. Its benefit sooner than tax used to be 28.1 million. euro, which is, alternatively, a lower of 57% in comparison to 2022.
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