Bulgaria - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 11 December 2016 to 9 December 2017, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations used are explained in the General Information document.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA" refer to the European Railway Atlas Romania, Bulgaria & Moldova, Regional Series 2016, by M.G.Ball.
Obscure services
Mezdra Avoiding Line: Mezdra-Jug – Ruska Bjala
[200, 700] (ERA 243C2) BG18/1
This route is used by fast trains between Sofia and Vraca not reversing at Mezdra.
| 7620 | Sofia - 08:26 Zverino - Bojchinovci | ||
| 7622 | Sofia - 13:10 Zverino - Vidin | ||
| 7621 | Bojchinovci - 08:41 Vraca - Sofia | ||
| 7623 | Vidin - 15:11 Vraca - Sofia | ||
| 7625 | Bojchinovci - 20:30 Vraca - Sofia |
(Plovdiv –) Filipovo – Skutare
[800] (ERA 248B5) BG17/2
Most trains between Plovdiv and Skutare (and onwards to Mihajlovo) run via a shorter, easterly route at Plovdiv and call at Trakija. One train runs to the west and north of Plovdiv and via Filipovo:
| 8636 | Varna - 04:46 Belozem - Plovdiv |
(Sofia –)- Voluyak - Razmenna – Pernik-Razpredelitelna (– Pernik)
[556] (ERA 246B2-A1) BG17/3
This is an alternative route to the main line between Sofia and Pernik, running from Sofia via Voluyak, Razmenna and a reinstated curve to Pernik-Razpredelitelna where it rejoins the main line to Pernik.
| Sub60201 | 07:08 Sofia - Pernik | ||
| Sub60203 | 17:55 Sofia - Pernik | ||
| Sub60202 | 05:28 Pernik - Sofia | ||
| Sub60204 | 17:50 Pernik - Sofia |
(Sofia) - Razmenna – Kopanitsa
[556] (ERA 246B2-A1) BG17/3A
Due to engineering work on the main line, the BDZ Journey planner is showing only the southbound International to Thessaloniki diverted via Razmenna and not calling at Pernik so will use this freight only line avoiding Pernik between November 6 and December 9 2017. It should be noted that the northbound International is shown as running to and terminating at Pernik for a bus to Sofia, and searches of the JP show no other services non-stopping at Pernik.
| Note 1 | 361 | 14:35 Sofia - 16:35 Radomir - Thessaloniki |
Note 1: November 6 to December 9 2017
(Sofia) - Cherepish – Lyutibrod (– Mezdra)
[200] (ERA 243C2, not shown) BG17/4
Between Lyutibrod and Cherepish the two tracks are on very different alignments for over a kilometre and are up to 170 metres apart. Indeed for a time the tracks are on opposite sides of the river Iskar.
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday:
| 226 | Shumen - Komunari |
| 228 | (Poveljanovo -) Dobrich - Kardam |
| 401 | Dimitrovgrad - Momchilgrad |
| 500 | Dupnica - Bobov Dol |
| 600 | (Sofia -) Volujak - Pernik via Hrabarsko and from an unknown date also via Pernik-Razpredelit [reverse] |
| - | Dragoman - Dimitrovgrad (Serbia) |
| - | Ruse - Giurgiu Nord (Romania) |
| - | Vidin - Calafat (Romania) |
| - | Kulata - Promachon (Greece) |
| - | Svilengrad - Kapıkule (Turkey) |
Deletions since previous edition
The number of trains required to qualify as a sparse service has been reduced from 4 to 3, in line with Romania. The following services are therefore no longer sparse.
- 224 (Levski -) Lovech - Trojan
- 300 Sofia Sever - Stolnik via Kremikovtzi
- 600 Kjustendil - Gjueshevo
- 882 Filipovo - Panagjurishte
- 900 Samuil - Silistra
