On August 12, Bulgarian state railways BDZ started the gradual retirement of electrical carriages from series 32 and 33, which are more than 35 years old, the company said in a statement on August 11.

Currently 140 economy class trains providing various itineraries in Bulgaria are subject to retirement. "In connection to the improvement of transport service safety, BDZ performed an additional check of the technical and fire alarm installations of all electrical carriages from series 32 and 33, as they have been in use for more than 35 years," BDZ said. "During the check, some minor technical faults were found in some of the carriages, which were by no means a threat to the railway transportation safety," the company said, adding that despite the faults, due to the age of the carriages, the removal would start.

To balance train shortage, BDZ would begin replacing them with other alternatives. Various locomotives and economy class train carriages would replace 43 of the trains, the company said. Another 20 trains would be stopped completely but in their place BDZ would hire buses with the same routes and timetables. The remaining 77 passenger trains are yet to be removed and serviced, but they are a priority of the company.

After the certification of the five new Desiro trains is complete, which BDZ purchased, the company will put them into regular operation. By adding the five new carriages, BDZ will change the composition of 31 passenger trains, which are currently being serviced, replacing the oldest of the carriages with the new ones, the company said.