Fandakova: By the end of February we will launch three new electric transport lines - Sofia Municipality - Портал на Столичната Община

Back Fandakova: By the end of February we will launch three new electric transport lines

Published 1/7/20

‘We are extending line No.123 from Slatina quarter to the Simeonovo Lift station and on January 17th we will launch 3 new electric buses. This is the third electric line that we launch, and in February we will be launching two more’, said Sofia Mayor, Yordanka Fandakova.

Line No. 123 will be extended by 6 more stops and will reach the Geo Milev bus station.

The launch of extended line No. 123 is an initiative that was supported by the Municipal Council based on the report of the then Deputy Mayor for Transport, Mr. Barbalov and municipal councillors, Zafir Zarkov, GERB municipal councillor and Carlos Kontrera, Patriotic Front municipal councillor.

‘After the first two electric lines we launched at the end of 2018 on bus lines No. 9 and 306, we are launching a third electric line No. 123, and by the end of February we will launch two more. A total of three new electric lines will be launched by the end of February’, said Fandakova.

Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova told journalists that by the end of 2021, about 20% of all buses on the streets of the capital will be electric. According to Fandakova, 10 new electric lines will be planned in her program for the new term. ‘Buses, which are currently undergoing procedures and funding is provided, will be running on the streets of Sofia by the end of 2021’, said Fandakova. ‘This is a good achievement for our city, which in terms of electric transport develops on an equal footing with many other European cities’, said also Fandakova.

The zero-emission electric buses are the city's cleanest urban transport. Their initial purchase costs are much higher than gas and diesel buses, but operating and fuel costs are by times lower.

The new deputy mayor for Transport and Transport Communications of Sofia Municipality, Kristian Krastev said that the new line significantly improves the buses’ traffic windows. One of the forthcoming tasks he is working on is increasing the throughput capacity of the intersections at “Todor Kableshkov” Blvd. and “Bulgaria” Blvd., as well as at “Pancho Vladigerov” Blvd. and “Tsaritsa Yoanna” Blvd., which have heavy traffic.