Bulgarian State Railways


The Bulgarian State Railways are Bulgaria's state railway company and the largest railway carrier in the country, established as an entity in 1888. The company's headquarters are located in the capital Sofia. Since the 1990s the BDŽ has met serious competition from automotive transport. Up to 2002 the company also owned/managed the railway infrastructure in the country, when according to EU regulations a new state company, the National Railway Infrastructure Company, was founded and became the owner of the infrastructure.
Bulgaria is a member of the International Union of Railways. The UIC Country Code for Bulgaria is 52.

History

The Ruse – Varna, the first Bulgarian railway line, was started in 1864. The Turkish government had commissioned for it an English company managed by William Gladstone, a politician, and the Barkley brothers, civil engineers. The line, which was 223 km long, was opened in 1866.
In 1870 Baron Maurice de Hirsch started the construction of the Constantinople – Belovo railway line, completed three years later.
In 1885, the National Assembly passed the Railway Act, according to which railways in Bulgaria were considered state property and were to be operated by the state. In 1888 Stefan Stambolov’s government expropriates the Vakarel – Belovo railway line and started operating it. On 1 August, the whole of the Tsaribrod – Sofia – Belovo railway line was opened for international traffic. The state bought off the Ruse – Varna railway line and started operating it on 10 August. The Bulgarian State Railways were therefore established, based on the Tsaribrod – Sofia – Belovo and Ruse – Varna railway lines. An independent Ministry of Railways, Post Offices and Telegraphs was established in 1912, followed by the State Railway School in 1923.
The next major railway line to be opened was the sub-Balkan railway line, in 1952.
Diesel traction was introduced in 1963 for train traffic with the diesel-hydraulic B′B′ locomotives, built by SGP. The first electrified line, Sofia – Plovdiv, entered into operation in the same year with the new then class 41, built by Škoda. The first doubled track line, the Sindel – Varna, was completed one year later.
In 1978 operations started on the Varna - Illichivsk ferry line with four train ferries capable of carrying each 104 four-axle wagons. Break of gauge facility was constructed in Beloslav
On 1 January 2002, the new Railway Transport Act entered into force, passed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, according to which the National Company Bulgarian State Railways were split into two separate enterprises – a railway carrier and an infrastructure enterprise
The European Commission formally warned Bulgaria in May 2010 for failure to implement the First Railway rules on track access charges.
In October 2010 further restructuring was announced, with BDŽ EAD becoming a holding company, and all rolling stock allocated to passenger & freight subsidiaries.

Company structure

Since the last reforms in 2007, a new organisational structure has been approved.
BDŽ Inc.
Still there are many problems with the organisational structure of the holding. In order to optimise the running costs many of the employees from the administration should be laid off. There is an evident lack of effectiveness in the administration and the main goal of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Telecommunication is to make the company profitable.

Current traction

ClassManufacturerTraction TypeNotes
06Electroputere – CraiovaDiesel-electric
07LuhanskteplovozDiesel-electricLudmilla The most famous locomotives built in the Soviet Union. Same as DB Class 232
10Siemens AGDMU-2Desiro Modern diesel-hydraulic multiple-units.
30Siemens AGEMU-3Desiro Modern 3 car electric multiple units
31Siemens AGEMU-4Desiro 4 car version of class 30
32RVR RigaEMU-4Soviet built EMUs. Soviet class ЭР25
33RVR RigaEMU-4Soviet built EMUs. Soviet class ЭР33
42.1Škoda WorksElectric
43Škoda WorksElectric
44Škoda WorksElectricSame as Class 43, but with electro-dynamic braking.
45Škoda WorksElectricSame as Class 44. Re-geared for 110 km/h operation for freight trains.
46/46.2Electroputere – CraiovaElectricThe LE5100 are the most powerful locomotives in use by BDŽ. Similar to CFR class 40.
51GanzDieselSimilar to ZS Class 641 and MÁV Class M44.
52VEB Lokomotiv und Electrotechnische WerkeDiesel-hydraulicDB Class V 60.
55FAURDiesel-hydraulicThe biggest number of locomotives in the BDŽ fleet.
61Škoda WorksElectricShunter and light service loco. Famous amongst railfans in Bulgaria due to rarity of locomotive.
66Humboldt-Deutzmotoren A.G.Diesel-hydraulicSofia Depot has one locomotive of the class, which had to be restored for shunting service in the depot, but works were stopped due to lack of financing. DR Class V20.
75Henschel & SonDiesel-hydraulic gauge locomotives used on the Septemvri – Dobrinisthe tourist-attraction line.
77FAURDiesel-hydraulic gauge locomotive.
81Камбарский машиностроительный завод
Diesel-hydraulic gauge shunting locomotive. Soviet class ТУ7

Narrow gauge railways

The scenic Septemvri-Dobrinishte narrow gauge line was finished in 1945. It goes through the station of Avramovo, which is the highest railway station on the Balkans at 1267.4 meters. Further on, it passes through the summer and winter tourist centre of Bansko. The line is 760mm gauge, unelectrified, and is primarily served by diesel power locomotives, however there are well preserved steam locomotives that provide attraction tours. Even though it is very attractive to tourists, it is also widely used by the local inhabitants for public transport purposes.

Rail links to adjacent countries