Bulgaria railways to run special train on Septembri – Dobrinishte narrow-gauge line on September 4
Bulgarian state railways BDZ is adding five additional carriages to the Septembri – Dobrinishte narrow-gauge line on September 4 2016, one of the most picturesque rail routes in the country, as part of celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the first train running on the line.
The train departs at 8am on Sunday, after a brief ceremony to mark the 90th anniversary.
While BDZ is providing the engine and rolling stock, the event itself has been organised by narrow-gauge rail travel enthusiasts.
The Septembri – Dobrinishte narrow-gauge line is included in the list of the most interesting railway lines in Europe, published in the guide to European railway timetables issued by German railways Deutsche Bahn.
The train travels at an average speed of 40km/h on a route with many tunnels and bridges. The line includes the Avramovo station, at 1267m the highest-altitude railway station in Bulgaria.
The 760mm gauge line is about 120km long, starting from the upper Trakia valley, passing through the Rhodope and Avramovo saddle that separates the Rila and Rhodope mountains, and the reaching the Razlog plaine at the foot of the Pirin mountain.
The journey will include, at various stations along the line, a programme to promote the cause of the protection and promotion of the Rhodope narrow-gauge railway.
Various trains reach Septembri in time on September 4, including one departing Sofia at 6.30am, from Plovdiv at 6.55am, from Pazardzhik at 7.41am, Dimitrovgrad at 5.30am (with a stopover in Plovdiv) and Stara Zagora at 4.20am (also stopping over in Plovdiv). For information on reaching Septembri from other destinations, please visit bdz.bg.
