Railways of Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, rail transport is comfortable and affordable. The monopolist in this area is the Bulgarian Railways (BDZ) company, whose official website is located at ww.bdz.bg. Trains in the country are not as popular as buses and cars. Not every city has a station, and trains are sometimes late. These disadvantages reduce the popularity of trains and affect the price level, which remains low. The construction of the first main line in the country began in 1864. Now the railways of Bulgaria stretch for 6.5 thousand km. More than half of them are electrified.
Characteristics of the railway system
Electrified railways are the base of the country's land transport links. Train travel is cheap. People are transported by passenger trains and express trains. The trains have sleeping and seating places in different classes. The ticket price is determined by the base fare. Suburban traffic is supported in Sofia and Plovdiv. The most popular routes in Bulgaria start in Sofia. From here trains go to Plovdiv, Karlovo, Mezdra, Dimitrovgrad, Burgas and other cities. A month before the flight, train tickets appear at the box office. Resort tickets must be booked well in advance of departure.
Most passenger trains are electric trains created during the Soviet era and equipped with improved seats. The external and internal design of the trains is similar to the Russian one. Bulgaria also has express trains with compartments equipped with seating. They are analogous to the compositions of Western Europe. These trains run on lines connecting the resorts with the capital. Almost all trains in the country are day trains..
Where and how to buy a railway ticket
Bulgaria has an unusual train schedule. Routes are not always associated with the cities that are listed in the timetable. Different flights in the same city may have a different number of connections. The train and station numbers are indicated on the ticket. It is recommended to check all additional information when purchasing a ticket. The passenger can purchase a ticket on the train from the controller, at the ticket office at the station or online, on the website bdz.bg/bg. Rail transport costs half as much as bus transport. Traveling on many routes by train is much more convenient and enjoyable than by bus. Cons of Bulgarian trains - long connections on long-distance routes and a limited number of flights.
Most of the international trains leave from the Central Station in Sofia. The capital of Bulgaria is connected with Belgrade, Vienna, Bucharest and other cities.
