Disruptions in train services due to delay on Sofia – Varna line

Delayed trains and missed connections have turned into a nightmare for people travelling on the Sofia-Varna line. The fast train from Varna to the capital was delayed for four hours in the early hours on July 27 because of a freight train that broke down on the tracks. Apart from the train services not running on schedule, passengers have also complained about the poor conditions in the compartments.

Elderly people and families with small children were left without transport to Rousse late last night because the train from Sofia to Varna was running 72 minutes late. Their connection in Gorna Oryahovitsa failed despite the ticket collector's assurance that the other train would wait for them.

"We were on the platform and the train left. We went to ask. We were told, 'It's none of your business, go complain to whoever you want, you can't come in here.' This is a mockery to me," said Delyan Penchev, a passenger.

The railway company, BDZ, explained that the connecting train will usually wait for 20 minutes. So, passengers who missed the connection were left in the waiting room without air-conditioning for the next train, which was in two hours, but it too was running 40 minutes late.

"What a nightmare. We were about 20 people who had to transfer to the train to Rousse. Nobody came to apologise, to give us a bottle of water. No attitude. The conditions on the trains are generally miserable, zero hygiene," said Petya Doneva.

The passengers will not seek compensations from BDZ. They are not entitled to it because the European regulation on compensation for railway delays has not yet entered into force. However, they hope for better service and attitude in the future.

"I just want the railway staff to be more polite. Their salaries depend on us, the passengers," Doneva said.

Because of the hot weather, trains are running slower, at limited speed and accumulating at least an hour delay, the railway company said. Those travelling via Plovdiv also need to be patient, as there will be changes from August 1 to September 25 due to the modernisation of the railway line. Fast trains will pass through Dimitrovgrad, which will further extend the journey to the seaside.

Not good, now it is 50 minutes late and if the train goes via Dimitrovgrad, it means another hour. We will get to Bourgas at 15:00 instead of 13:00," said Maria Dimitrova.

"There will be a lot of changes, and we have tried to make the schedule as convenient as possible in the most inconvenient situation," explained Eng. Georgi Vardev, Director of Traffic Management - Plovdiv.

The Plovdiv-Panagyurishte line will be entirely replaced by bus transport, and trains to Stara Zagora, Varna and Karlovo will depart from Filippovo station.