Fares for Bulgarian express trains to seaside to rise in March 2014 – transport minister

Bulgarian state railways BDZ fares for express trains from Sofia to Varna and to Bourgas will increase by five to eight per cent from March 1 2014, Transport Minister Daniel Papazov said on January 21.

Currently, a first-class ticket from Sofia to Varna costs 29.40 leva and a second-class ticket costs 23.50 leva. A first-class ticket from Sofia to Bourgas costs 23.60 leva and a second-class ticket 18.90 leva. There are additional fees for place reservations.

The eight per cent increase will be for fares for sleeping cars. Prices for tickets on railway coaches with seats but not bedding will go up by five per cent.

Papazov, who was speaking at an inaugural ceremony for a revamp of the Stamboliiski – Pazardzhik rail line, said that if repairs to the Sofia – Bourgas rail route were completed on schedule, the travelling time from Sofia to the Black Sea would be about three hours.

Renovations also are planned to rail lines from Septembri to Pazardzhik and from Stamboliiski to Plovdiv.

The total length of the rail line from Septembri to Plovdiv is 53km and the overall renovation project that will allow the movement of trains at a speed of 160km/h will cost close to 320 million leva.

Currently, travelling time on an express train from Sofia to Bourgas is about six to eight hours and from Sofia to Varna from about eight to 11 hours.

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