Railway Herald
During October 2023 the main line west of Sofia between Slivnitsa and Dragoman was closed during the daytime period for maintenance, a common practice on the Bulgarian railway network with bus replacement services in place. This particular closure prevented TBD TP operating their regular daily open cast coal workings from the mines in western Bulgaria. Hence coal was sourced from alternative mines in the east and south east of the country by way of the Sub-Balkan main line via Pirdop and Karlovo. TBD (Bulgaria Freight Transports) SKODA No. 43-556 makes a somewhat unusual appearance at Pirdop heading eastbound with empty coal hoppers on 9th October 2023.
Stephen Ginn
