Kapsch and Thales will Install Rail Signalling System in Bulgaria

Thales, in a consortium with Kapsch CarrierCom, has won a €35m contract from National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) in Bulgaria to supply an electronic signalling and telecommunication system for the Sofia-Plovdiv railway line.

Under the deal, the companies will provide a signalling system to the 133km Sofia-Plovdiv line, which is a part of the International Rail Corridor IV from Dresden to Istanbul, crossing Bulgaria.
Thales will be responsible for the installation of electronic interlockings for five stations, including outdoor facilities, European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1 trackside equipment and CheckPoint solutions comprising trackside train condition monitoring.
Kapsch will deliver GSM-R technology as well as dispatcher extensions, CAB radios and handhelds for the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 28 months.
Kapsch CarrierCom COO Thomas Schöpf said, “With these solutions, the line will support an increase in train speed and higher train frequencies, significantly increasing line capacity.”
Thales Austria CEO Alfred Veider said, “Jointly, we were able to further expand the line as part of the International Rail Corridor IV, where we already have been chosen for the 128km Plovidv-Svilengrad line.”
Five operating stations in Bulgaria are already equipped with electronic interlocking supplied by Thales.