Balgarianovinite.com The Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway is marking 100 years since the first train set off along the mountain route. On August 1, 1926, the section between Saranbey Station (now known as Septemvri) and Ladzhene Station (now Velingrad Central Station) was inaugurated with a ceremony and a special first train journey, laying the foundation for railway transport in the Rhodopes. The opening fulfilled the dream of local mountain communities to be linked with central Bulgaria. Regular service on the route began the following day. Initially, only one train ran in each direction between present-day Septemvri and Velingrad, with the 39-kilometre journey taking nearly three and a half hours.
Construction of the 760 mm narrow-gauge railway line began in the spring of 1921, starting from the Pazardzhik plain at Saranbey Station, located at an elevation of 238 metres above sea level. Designed by young engineer Stoyan Mitov, the line overcame the rocky gorge of the Chepino River in just five years. Before reaching Ladzhene Station – now a neighbourhood of Velingrad – the narrow-gauge railway climbs to the Chukata watershed at 801 metres above sea level and passes beneath mountain ridges ten times. The first 10 of the railway’s total 35 tunnels are located along this section, which remains one of the most scenic stretches of the route from Septemvri to Dobrinishte.
A century ago, trains on the line were pulled by small steam locomotives. Today, their modern successors are powered by diesel engines and are several times more powerful.
A hundred years after the first train travelled along the route, the Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway has become one of Bulgaria’s signature attractions and a showcase of the country to visitors from around the world. It is an increasingly popular tourist destination and one of Bulgaria’s most distinctive travel experiences.
Tourist interest in the narrow-gauge railway continues to grow each year. At the same time, the line remains a vital transport link with social significance for local communities. Despite its popularity, however, it faces challenges related to maintenance, infrastructure, and ensuring reliable service for the people who depend on it.
Following is a story by BTA’s External Service which explores the railway’s importance for local communities and the challenges it faces today:
Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway: Magnet for Tourists, Lifeline for Locals
January 31, 2024
Despite being one of Bulgaria’s most unique tourist and nature attractions, the Rhodope narrow-gauge railway still faces a lot of challenges. Last week, media reported that the line risks being closed down. Talking to BTA, Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway Association President Kristian Vaklinov denied that there is such a risk but highlighted other significant issues that need to be addressed.
The Rhodope narrow-gauge railway meanders between the Rhodope Mountains, Mt Rila and Mt Pirin amidst breathtaking natural scenery. The 124.7 km line runs from the winter and spa resort of Dobrinishte via Bansko with its popular ski slopes and apres-ski hustle and bustle, Razlog (a hotspot for Bulgarian cuisine lovers), Belitsa (famous for its Dancing Bears Park), Yakoruda (noted for its history and ethnic mix), Avramovo (the Balkans’ highest railway station – 1,267 m above sea level), Velingrad (a major spa centre), and Septemvri (formerly Saranbey, a link-up to the Sofia-Yambol-Burgas railway). The narrow-gauge line connects three ethno-cultural regions: Thrace, the Western Rhodopes, and Pirin Macedonia.
The 760-mm-gauge line passes through 35 tunnels and crosses two rivers over three bridges. The first train left Saranbey for Ladzhene (now a neighbourhood of Velingrad) on August 1, 1926. That first leg of the route was just 38.3 km long. Construction of the line, bringing it to its present length, continued until 1945.
At the end of January 2024, just a single locomotive pulled the trains of the Rhodope narrow-gauge railway between Septemvri and Dobrinishte. Nine out of a total of 14 train services were discontinued. Vaklinov blamed the cancellations on the lack of spare parts for locomotives which often need to be repaired.
In January, MP Vasil Todev initiated an important round table on the future of the narrow-gauge railway in Velingrad. Some of the municipalities along the route, the Ministry of Tourism, the Bulgarian National Railways (BDZ), the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) and the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association were represented at the discussion, along with Vaklinov himself, who has been instrumental in reviving interest in the railway for over 10 years now.
Vaklinov wrote on Facebook that the meeting was productive, and that participants showed interest in pooling their efforts to create a tourism product from the line and the numerous tourist sites along the route, with the active involvement of local government and the Tourism Ministry. The NRIC are committed to taking proper care of the track and other facilities, and BDZ has provided additional wagons, including ones that can carry ski equipment, as well as ones adapted for disabled passengers.The crucial and urgent issue that remains to be addressed is better locomotive maintenance, Vaklinov pointed out. He urged central government to stabilize and develop the country’s potential, such as the narrow-gauge line, before the situation becomes critical. He believes and hopes that the matter would be addressed adequately.
In his Facebook post, Vaklinov thanked his colleagues who are on the ground struggling to keep the line in operation and wished luck to those higher up that care and will do something about the situation. “We are counting on you,” the message concluded.Back in 2013, Vaklinov gained popularity as “the keeper of the narrow-gauge railway”. Only 18 years old at that time, he campaigned for a restart of the cancelled train services between Dobrinishte and Yakoruda and enabling locals to use this vital means of transport in their everyday life and work, as well as that tourists could enjoy the pleasure of the trip and the views.Vaklinov came to love the narrow-gauge train as a child, when his grandparents would often take him on a ride.
He said in his BTA interview: “As I travelled on the line like a tourist, I saw for myself that people feared that the train may be grounded altogether, after two services on the route were cancelled, leaving many commuters without an option. As a citizen, a young person, I decided to try to get at least one of those services that were cancelled in 2011 back on track. That was my intervention, my involvement.”
In 2013, Vaklinov wrote multiple letters to those in charge, and after the third letter, the Dobrinishte-Yakoruda service was resumed. This kindled Vaklinov’s fervour even further: he started counting passengers, analyzing, doing research, advocating changes in the timetable, so that the trains that run would become more comfortable and attract more passengers. August 1, 1926: First Train Sets Off on Rhodope Narrow-Gauge Railway 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-01 13:31:49 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law