News, Outlook

SOR to deliver another 30 gas-powered buses to Košice

According to the announcement published on June 19, SOR Libchavy won the tender issued by the Dopravný podnik mesta Košice (DPMK), responsible for public transport in Košice, which was announced at the end of last November for the procurement of 15 solo and 15 articulated city buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Although the Czech bus manufacturer traditionally holds a good position in the city, the competition is not entirely concluded, as the losing bidders may still appeal.

In the public procurement announced with a deadline of January 20, 2025, four bids were received for the solo vehicles section, and three for the articulated section. Besides the eventual winner SOR, TempusTrans SK representing Iveco products in Slovakia, and the Turkish Otokar and BMC also participated in the tender, though the latter was disqualified for not meeting the participation criteria. In both sections, it is a conditional framework agreement valid for 24 months from the date it comes into effect.

The contracting authority initially estimated a total value of 12.7 million euros excluding VAT for the procurement, allocating 5.4 million euros for the 12-meter solo buses and 7.3 million euros for the 18-meter articulated buses. SOR ultimately submitted a bid that was over one million euros cheaper, at 11.2 million euros. They will deliver the series of 15 NSG 12 solo types for 4,725,000 euros and the NSG 18 articulated models for 6,472,500 euros (both excluding VAT). Both types are already known in the fleet of the Košice transport company.

The new gas buses must be delivered by the winning bidder within 18 months from the signing of the contract, currently SOR, which also has to provide a 36-month or 260,000-kilometer warranty on the vehicles. The delivery includes the necessary supplementary equipment for operation and related services. DPMK aims to finance almost the entire investment from European Union funds. The self-contribution would only be one million euros, which would mainly be covered by the fare increases planned from this August – the introduction of which will be decided at the Košice city council meeting on June 26.

The municipal transport company of Košice, Dopravný podnik mesta Košice (DPMK), took delivery of two brand new five-door SOR NB 18 City articulated city buses last week. The event was reported on both the company’s and the city’s official Facebook page. Further units are expected to follow at the beginning of spring, marking the farewell […]

The images depict previously delivered SOR NSG 12 and NSG 18 buses. Source: Košice City Hall