What is the Rhodopes Narrow Gauge Railway Line?

The Rhodopes Narrow Gauge Railway Line Septemvri - Dobrinishte is the highest railway line in the Balkans, going from the village of Septemvri (near Pazardzhik) via Velingrad, Yakoruda and Belitsa to Bansko and Dobrinishte.
Also located on this railway line is the highest railway station in the Balkans; Avramovo station, which is a whopping 1,267 m above sea level!

Today, the route is a well-known tourist attraction in Bulgaria and is 125 km long.

As the railway line passes through the mountains of the Rhodopes and Rila, there are many beautiful views, breathtaking nature and beautiful places to see on the route. It is not called one of the most beautiful railway lines in Europe for nothing!

This therefore ensures that many tourists want to travel on this train every year, which can cause crowds especially in summer.
What is special about this railway is that it was built entirely by hand, 24 hours a day by hundreds of workers.
But also special is the width of the track, which ensures that the train cannot travel fast in the mountains.

How was the railway line created and built?

Construction of the railway began in 1921 at the insistence of the Bulgarian army and the Ministry of Forestry with the aim of transporting forest resources in the mountains. It was also used for mining in the region.
Due to the mountainous terrain, a narrow gauge of just 760 mm was chosen.

It is still in use today, hence the name narrow gauge line.

The first 39 km of the line was built in five years; the Septemvri - Velingrad section, officially opened on 1 August 1926.
It took 13 years to build the heaviest section of the narrow gauge line: the one from Velingrad to Yakoruda. Its length is 47 km, in which 25 tunnels were built. The last tunnel is just before the Cherna Mesta stop. Together with the first 10 between Varvara and Dolene, the total number of tunnels on the line is 35.

In the period 1937-1939, the next 15 kilometres were built between Yakoruda and Belitsa . On 30 July 1939, the two constructed sections from Chepino station (now Velingrad-South station) via Avramovo and Yakoruda to Belitsa station were solemnly opened. The party train left from Septemvri station and the royal family also travelled with it to the then final station Belitsa.

On 3 March 1943, the Belitsa - Bansko section was opened, running through the resort town of Banya and the town of Razlog.
Right after Belitsa station is the General Kovachev stop, named in memory of General Stiliyan Kovachev - liberator of Pirin Macedonia.

The last 6 km of the line between Bansko and Dobrinishte were built with volunteer labour from the residents of Dobrinishte. The line was opened on 9 December 1945. To this day, Dobrinishte is the last station on the 125-kilometre route from the Upper Thracian Plain through the Rhodopes and Rila to the foot of the Pirin Mountains.

The compartments

The first trains on the line were pulled by steam locomotives and the passenger coaches had wooden seats. One of the first carriages has been preserved to this day and is used for special attraction rides.

In the 1970s, the wagon factory in Dryanovo produced new modern carriages for the Septemvri - Dobrinishte line at the request of BDZ (the Bulgarian railway company).
They are equipped with upholstered seats and heating, much more comfortable than the old carriages with wooden benches and wood heating. Until now, these carriages have provided passenger trains on the line and are thoroughly repaired and modernised every five years.
Today, they are equipped with power sockets, LED lighting, comfortable seats with armrests and curtains.

Tickets

Would you like to take a ride on this special train? You can! The journey takes about five hours from start to finish, but of course you can get off earlier or board later.

Check ticket prices and where to buy them here.