Last update for this page: 07 February 2010.
National railway system: Bulgarian State Railways - Bulgarski Darshavni Železnici (BDŽ), Български държавни железници (БДЖ).
Official Website: www.bdz.bg
Language: Bulgarian, using Cyrillic script.
Currency: Lev (Lv, дв); 100 stotinki = 1 Lv
UIC code: numeric 52; alpha BG
| Journey Planner: | razpisanie.bdz.bg/SearchServlet?lang=en |
| Downloadable Timetable: | Not known. |
| Printed Timetable: | Patevoditel (ПЪТЕВОДИТЕЛ). Includes all internal and international services. Almost completely written in Bulgarian, using Cyrillic script. The timetable map is diagrammatic and still shows a few lines that no longer have a passenger service. This can be very difficult to obtain, but a pocket-sized version "СЪКРАТЕНО РАЗПИСАНИЕ" with reduced detail is more generally available. |
| Engineering Information: | Not known. |
Gauge: Standard. The BDŽ line from Septemvri to Dobrinishte is 760 mm gauge.
Electrification: 25 kV 50 Hz.
Rule of the road: Right.
Other Railways: None.
Tourist Lines: None.
Metro: Sofia.
Trams: Sofia.
Recent and future changes:
Much of the network is electrified, and more electrification is in progress. Electrification work continues on the route between Plovdiv and the border with Turkey via Dimitrovgrad and Svilengrad.
The border crossing at Kardam (BDŽ) / Negru Vodă (CFR) carried passenger trains between 15 June and 9 August 2009 after some years of closure. Information on any 2010 usage would be welcomed.
The section of table 331 between Kremikovci and Jana via Obedinena lost its passenger service at the end of the 2008/2009 timetable period.
The border crossing between Svilengrad (BDŽ) and Díkaia/Díkea (OSE) is reported to have lost its passenger service in August 2009.
Corridor Trains: None.
Special Notes: None.
Maps: There is no published map of the railways of Bulgaria, except that in M.G. Ball's "European Railway Atlas". Web-based maps of Bulgaria and an enlargement of the Sofia area can be found at www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_bulgaria.php.
Last complete update 19 October 2008. Subsequent amendments: "Timetable" and "Currency" amended (25 October 2008); "Official Website" added, "UIC Code" and "Recent and future changes" amended (14 December 2008); "Timetable" and "Recent and future changes" amended (27/28 January 2010); "Recent and future changes" amended (7 February 2010).
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