Railway Herald
BDZ PP SIEMENS Smartron No. 80-053 'CZAR KONSTANTINE ASEN' pulls into Sofia-Sever with a twelve vehicle consist on 21st October 2024. This is currently a regular afternoon ECS (Empty Coaching Stock) move from Sofia Central which provides the stock for three separate early evening northbound loco-hauled departures. With limited access through Sofia Central station this daily working takes the long way round to Sofia-North (Sofia-Sever) by first heading east as far as Kazichene and then looping around the northern outskirts of the city via Yana, Kremikovsti, Svetovrachane and Iliyantsi. What would normally be a five minute run takes about an hour via this alternative routing. Most long distance passenger workings in Bulgaria are formed of four or five coaches so to see such a long consist is somewhat unusual.
Stephen Ginn
