Ten new trains will transport Sofia residents and visitors using the capital's subway, beginning this week.

The first such train was launched officially on Monday at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Environment and Waters, Iskra Mihaylova, the Mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, and the CEO of Metropolitan company, Stoyan Bratoev.

The remaining 9 trains will start running Tuesday.

As all other trains used by the Sofia Metro, the new ones are also made in Russia, but are "newest generation." They consume 25% less energy, compared to the older models, have reduced noise and improved air conditioning. They are manufactured in partnership with the Japanese "Hitachi." "Hitachi's" engines have a lifespan of 10-12 million kilometers.

With them, the total number of subway trains grew to 52.

They cost BGN 80 M, which have been financed from the EU operational program Environment through the Ministry of Environment and Waters.

The new trains will transport an additional 85 000 passengers daily.

Currently, the Sofia subway transports close to 300 000 passengers a day. This number will increase by another 90 000 in 2015 when the new metro stations at the airport and the business park will be launched, while the intervals between trains during rush hour will be reduced by 45 seconds and will be 2 and a half minutes.

The number of passengers is to reach half million in 2018.

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