Railway Herald
A deserted scene early evening at Kulata in south west Bulgaria on 16th May 2023. Situated barely a mile from the Greek border we see Romanian-built Electroputere 46-229 having run round its two coach consist prior to working the north bound ORD 50134 (19:55) Kulata to Dupnitsa service. The extreme left of the imeage reveals the passport control office which is firmly locked up and not currently in use despite 46-229 bringing in the International train working from Sofia. When this image was recorded there was no onward train connection into Greece and no sign of any alternative transport by road. But the International train still runs! Articulated lorries heading south can be seen queuing at the border control point into Greece, Bulgaria not currently a member of the open borders SCHENGEN club.
Stephen Ginn
