Bulgarian railways holding steam train excursions in October 2018 to celebrate 130th birthday
Bulgarian state railways BDZ is holding steam train excursions, with vintage rolling stock, on October 6 and 7 2018 to celebrate its 130th birthday.
The rolling stock will include carriages from the Korona Express royal train and the 1980s Vitosha Express government train.
On October 6, the train’s routes will be Sofia – Mezdra – Pleven – Mezdra – Sofia; and Gorna Oryahovitsa – Shoumen – Varna.
On October 7, the routes will be Sofia – Septembri – Plovdiv – Karlovo – Sofia; and Varna – Karnobat – Stara Zagora – Gorna Oryahovitsa.
The October 6 train on the Sofia-Mezdra-Pleven-Mezdra-Sofia route and the October 7 train on the Sofia-Septemvri-Plovdiv-Karlovo-Sofia route will be towed by steam locomotive № 05.01 and their rolling stock will include Tsaritsa Yoanna’s personal saloon carriage from the Korona Express and the dining car from the Vitosha Express.
The train on the route Gorna Oryahovitsa-Shoumen-Varna on Saturday and Varna-Karnobat-Stara Zagora-Gorna Oryahovitsa on Sunday will be towed by steam locomotive № 16.27. The rolling stock will include Tsar Boris III’s personal saloon carriage from the Korona Express and the largest saloon car from the royal train.
BDZ said that each of the trains would also have five passenger carriages. All travellers will be able to inspect them, with state railway officials on hand to tell them interesting facts during the excursions.
The ticket prices are 18 leva for one section (meaning, one of the routes above), 27 leva for two sections and 45 leva for more than two sections or for return tickets on the Sofia-Pleven-Sofia and Sofia-Karlovo-Sofia routes. The tickets include reserved seats. Passengers may join the journey at any of the stations on the routes.
For children younger than seven, ticket office staff will issue free-of-charge tickets, provided proof of age is provided. Children given free tickets may not use separate seating.
Ticket sales began on September 21 and tickets may be bought at any railway station or rail bureau in the country, BDZ said.
(Photo: BDZ)
