Metropolitan EAD, which operates the two-line metro, awarded Siemens and Newag a €140m contract in March 2016 to supply trains and signalling for the first phase of the new Line 3, which is due to open in 2019.

 

The new vehicles are based on the Inspiro design currently used on the Warsaw metro, and will be used both underground and above ground.

The train will be transported 1100km by road on three trucks over five nights through Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia up to the Bulgarian capital, with unloading due to start around July 2.

The contract includes an option for 10 additional trains.