Bulgarian railways are called " Bulgarian State Railways“ and it turns out BJJ. And railway stations, accordingly, ZhP (and iron Pътн A) gara(railway station).
The first railway in Bulgaria was built by the British, the Berkeley brothers in 1866. It connected the cities of Ruse and Varna.
In 1952, a railway connection between Burgas and Sofia opened. In 1909, all railway lines became state property.
In 2005, new carriages appeared in Bulgaria - Siemens, but you can still find old German carriages on suburban routes.
I would say that Bulgaria has very well developed railway connections for such a small country - almost all major settlements connected to each other. It's comfortable. It is a pity that with the optimization of costs, the Bulgarian railways have reduced some international routes.
Train in Bulgarian vlak. This word comes from the verb " dragging, dragging"and was previously used for river transport.
Train from Sofia to Burgas
Now I want to talk about how to travel by train from Sofia to Burgas. Travel time is night. At 22.45 you land in Sofia and at 6.15 in Burgas.
Tickets for Bulgarian trains look like the photo below. This is a ticket to second class in a triple compartment. It costs 30.40 levs (15.58 euros) per person from Sofia to Burgas.
There are three sections: the first ticket gives you the right to travel from Sofia to Burgas, the second ticket gives you the right to use a sleeping car, where your compartment and sleeping place will be specified, the third ticket with red font is a receipt that remains with you after the conductor will take the middle ticket. At the entrance to the carriage, the conductor will take all three tickets from you, and then, upon arrival at your destination, he will return the first and third.
The carriages are divided into sleeping and seating carriages. In turn, sleeping rooms are divided into “business class”, “first class” and “second class”; seated - for "first" and "second" classes. Business class of a sleeping car means that the passenger will be in a single compartment, first class - the compartment has two berths, second class - three berths. There are two types of seated carriages - “first” and “second” classes. First class is designed as a seated compartment. The second is like an electric train. The last type is also loved by large, cheerful groups who are not going to sleep.
Shared toilet in the sleeping car
When you buy a ticket at the box office ZhP Gara, you pay for the travel and type of accommodation on the train. If you buy a ticket from Sofia to Burgas, you pay the fare, plus the type and class of the carriage. Here we get 20.40 levs (from Sofia to Burgas) plus the cost of sleeping accommodation - 10 levs.
These hygiene kits are not given to everyone and not always. Sometimes they are on the shelf in the compartment, and sometimes they are not.
However, there is no particular use for them, except for paper tissues, if you forgot a towel at home - no other towels in Bulgarian trains can not be.
As for other prices, then sleeping car business class costs 18 levs (9.23 euros), first class - 12 levs (6.15 euros), second class - 10 levs (5.12 euros).
Seats in a compartment are sold for 5 levs (2.56 euros) and standard seats for 50 stotinki (0.25 euros).
Pre-sale of train tickets in Bulgaria begins five days before the travel date. For holidays and summer season A twenty-day pre-sale is introduced.
You can buy a round-trip ticket, but you cannot pay in advance for a bed/seat in the opposite direction. To do this, you need to go to the ticket office at the place of departure and pay extra for the type of seat there. For night routes you can buy both seats and sleeping places, for day routes - only seats. The price of a seat does not depend on the distance.
Tambour in a sleeping car
Power socket in a triple second class compartment. Here you can charge any gadget.
The second class sleeping car consists of ten compartments. This glass door separates the regular compartments from the disabled ones. Disabled compartments are spacious and have a washbasin.
Bed linen is included in the price sleeping place and you don’t have to pay extra for it. The set consists of a pillow, a pillowcase on it, two sheets, one of which replaces the duvet cover, and a “camel” blanket. There are no towels. The linen is good, clean, dry and does not smell.
Second class compartment of a sleeping car on a Bulgarian train
Interesting point about the stairs. In the photo it is in its original position. People complain that it is supposedly installed incorrectly and when using it, they want to pull the stop valve. In fact, to climb onto the third shelf, it is better to remove it (the ladder) from the mount and move it to the shelf.
You may get a seat in a compartment for disabled people simply because it was available at the time you purchased your train tickets, and not because you are disabled.
Washbasin in compartment
There are shelves behind the mirror. 
This is the control panel for the coupe :)
Here the temperature regime, the volume of something there and the lighting are set. This compartment has a TV. True, it only showed the inscription “Sofia-Burgas”. The conductor said that it was just an information board and that it was not working properly at the moment.
There is a drawer for shoes under the hanger. 
At the head of each bed there is a lamp, a button to call the conductor and some other functions.
The sleeping cars on the Sofia-Burgas-Sofia route are new - German, and have air conditioning.
The common toilet in the carriage is not locked. About forty minutes before arrival, the conductor wakes everyone up and hands out tickets that he picked up at the boarding. Neither tea nor coffee are offered; there is no restaurant or even a buffet on the train. Smoking is not allowed - there are smoke detectors throughout the carriage. When boarding a night flight, an unofficial quiet hour is announced. Surveillance cameras are installed in the corridor and if “unauthorized” movement begins, the conductor comes out to check.
Important!
Sleeping compartments in Bulgaria are divided into women's and men's. A family of three can easily buy triple sleeper compartment second class. In this case, a first class sleeping compartment is suitable for the couple, otherwise they will have to sleep in different compartments.
Platform of the residential complex in Burgas
In Bulgaria, rail transport is comfortable and affordable. The monopolist in this area is the Bulgarian Railways (BDZ), whose official website is located at ww.bdz.bg. Trains in the country are not as popular as buses and cars. Not every city has a station, and trains are sometimes late. These shortcomings reduce the popularity of trains and affect the level of prices, which remain low. The first railway in the country began to be built back in 1864. Now the railways of Bulgaria stretch for 6.5 thousand km. More than half of them are electrified.
Characteristics of the railway system
Electrified railways are the basis of the country's land transport connections. Transport by train is cheap. People are transported on passenger trains and express trains. The trains have sleeping and sitting places in different classes. The ticket price is determined by the base fare. Suburban connections are supported in Sofia and Plovdiv. The most popular routes in Bulgaria start in Sofia. From here trains go to Plovdiv, Karlovo, Mezdra, Dimitrovgrad, Burgas and other cities. A month before the flight, train tickets appear at the box office. Tickets to resort places should be booked well in advance of departure.
Most passenger trains are electric trains, created during the Soviet era and equipped with improved seats. The external and internal design of the trains is similar to the Russian one. Bulgaria also has fast trains with compartments equipped with seats. They are analogues of the compositions Western Europe. Such trains run on lines connecting resorts with the capital. Almost all trains in the country operate during the day.
Where and how to buy a train ticket
Bulgaria has an unusual train schedule. Routes are not always connected to the cities listed on the schedule. Different flights in the same city may have a different number of transfers. The ticket indicates the train and station numbers. It is recommended to clarify all additional information when purchasing a ticket. A passenger can purchase a ticket on the train from the ticket inspector, at the ticket office at the station or online at bdz.bg/bg. Railway transport costs half as much as bus service. Traveling along many routes by train is much more convenient and enjoyable than by bus. The disadvantages of Bulgarian trains are long transfers on long routes and a limited number of flights.
Majority international trains are sent from Central Station in Sofia. The capital of Bulgaria is connected to Belgrade, Vienna, Bucharest and other cities.
Vladimir Burakshaev
Here I will present photographs of the rolling stock of the Bulgarian Railway, taken in July 2017. I'll start with Sofia. There is one big one in Sofia Train Station, generating trains to almost all parts of Bulgaria. The station is in many ways reminiscent of Russian stations of the USSR era, built in major cities. Bulgarians do not call it a train station, they call it “zhelezoptna gara”, and small stopping points in Bulgaria are called “spirka”. Whoever goes, it may come in handy. The station has several high platforms and dead ends for commuter trains. Suburban trains presented by new trains from the Siemens plant, quite comfortable, with working toilets and air conditioning. Passenger carriages mainly consist of seated carriages with chairs. Moreover, the seats are available both in the general cabin (as in interregional carriages running across Russia) and in separate 3x3 compartments facing each other; compartments are separated from the corridor by glazed doors. I traveled in both, and it had virtually no effect on the fare. By the way, train in Bulgarian is “vlak”. Trains are designated as follows: KPV (Kraigradski patnicheski vlak) - an analogue of ours commuter train; PV (Patnicheski Vlak) - runs across the territory of Bulgaria at distances of up to 150 kilometers, with stops at all stations; BV (barz vlak) - faster and more comfortable trains, serving routes length from 200 kilometers, with a small number of stops; RBV (byrz vlak with long-term reservation) - fast trains with pre-booked tickets; MBV (International Barz Vlak) is an international fast train. (Based on materials from the site http://travelask.ru/bulgaria/vse-o-zheleznoy-doroge-bolgarii)
Like us, there are ticket offices inside the station that sell tickets for all departing trains. The tickets are still paper, with the BJJ logo. Instead of ticket, Bulgarians say “ticket card”. If there is no direct train to the desired station, the ticket office will give you a ticket with a transfer, where both trains will be indicated. There, on the ground floor of the station, there is a timetable. Departure is written “zaminavane”, arrival - “pristigane”. Access to the train platforms is through a tunnel. At small stations like ours, there are pedestrian decks. The path in Bulgarian is “kolovoz”. And now the local Sofian features. Two trains going in opposite directions can be boarded on the same track to the same platform. And the schedule shows, accordingly, the same platform and track twice (opposite different trains). Therefore, before boarding the carriage, you must carefully look at what is written on the route board of the carriage and the class of the carriage. Passenger trains may have 1st and 2nd class carriages; the class is marked with a number on the outer wall of the carriage. Electric trains (ER25) have only 2nd class carriages. The doors in many carriages are opened by the passenger himself during a stop, using a handle, and they close automatically. To drive passenger trains, far from new, but very reliable electric locomotives are used, which in appearance are very reminiscent of the Soviet ChS2 railways. Only these were alternating current, but ChS2 were constant. Shunting work in Sofia is performed by small shunting electric locomotives. The Sofia-Burgas train with sleeping cars regularly appears at the Sofia station. Very convenient for those who leave Sofia in the evening to arrive in Burgas in the morning. I didn't ride in it. They say that there are not 2 but 3 shelves in the compartment, located one above the other. There are also two steam locomotives at the Sofia station - monuments. One, a tank-steam locomotive, stands on the station square (on the side of the building), the other, a narrow-gauge locomotive, is located inside the station, on the first floor.
Tank locomotive in Sofia near the station.
A narrow gauge steam locomotive with a carriage on the ground floor of the Sofia railway station.
Passenger train at the Sofia station.
Another, slightly less common electric locomotive at the head local train.
An electric locomotive performing shunting work at the Sofia station: removing the cars of one of the arriving trains.
Since 1998, the metro has been operating in Sofia, using cars from the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant, models 81-717.4/714.4 and 81-740.2/741.2 (known in Russia as “Rusich”). There are few of the first, mostly “Rusichs” come across. But for now there is a chance to ride, if you stand and wait. The feeling is like being in my native Moscow metro, as if I had never left anywhere. On this moment There are two lines in the metro, and construction of a third is underway.
Station "Letishche (airport) Sofia" with electric train model 81-717.4/714.4.
Electric train 81-717.4/714.4 at the Lomsko Shosse station.
Electric train model 81-740.2/741.2 at the Lomsko Shosse station.
In addition to Sofia, I visited other stations, including Mezdra, Tsareva Livada, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Ruse, Varna, Carbonat, Burgas. Among the three main railway lines crossing Bulgaria, the most picturesque is the middle one, where there are flat and mountain sections.
An electric locomotive performs maneuvers at Mezdra station.
Passenger train of 2nd and 1st class carriages in Mezdra.
Another steam locomotive monument was discovered at the Tsareva Livada station.
Passenger train at Tsareva Livada station.
In a passenger train carriage.
At the Varna train station.
Diesel locomotive of the Lugansk plant with the Varna - Dobrich train at the Varna station. In the USSR they are known as TE109 and were also used, but in very limited quantities.
Shunting diesel locomotive at Kommunary station.
Electric locomotives at Karnobat station.
At the train station in Burgas.
The Bulgarian Railway has Soviet-built track machines. In particular, DM handcars.
Local graffiti artists pose a serious problem for BJJ. Unfortunately, you don’t often see a completely clean train in Bulgaria. As if on purpose, graffiti artists strive to leave their mark on everything that moves and that stands at a dead end. It's not very easy to fight them yet.
I’ll tell you separately about the trip on the Septemvri - Dobrinishte (Dobrinishte) narrow-gauge railway. This is the only widely known narrow gauge railway in Bulgaria. Track width 760 mm. The road was built in stages: the first section Septemvri - Velingrad was launched in 1922, and the last section - Bansko - Dobrinishte opened in 1945. The route passes through mountain ranges Rila and Rhodopes, 35 tunnels and several viaducts were built along its route. The length of the road is 120 kilometers, passenger train covers this distance in 5 hours. The line operates with Romanian-made diesel locomotives used to drive trains; there are two diesel locomotives from the Kambarsky Machine-Building Plant, similar to the Russian TU7. The Kambarsky diesel locomotive can be found carrying out arrivals from a flight passenger cars from the platform to the depot. Occasionally, at the request of tourists, retro steam-powered trains are launched on the narrow-gauge railway. For this purpose, several narrow gauge steam locomotives are preserved and maintained in working order at the Septemvri depot.
Septemvri depot. On the right is a Soviet-built narrow-gauge diesel locomotive from the Kambarsky plant.
Yakoruda station. At the station there is a passenger train to Septemvri. There are new comfortable carriages with soft seats and working toilets. I have never seen this before on Russian narrow-gauge railways. But nevertheless, our dear Russian narrow-gauge railways are still miles away.
Razlog station.
Bansko station. From here there is the last stretch to Dobrinishte.
Train station and water pump at Bansko station.
Bansko. Abandoned locomotive.
Bansko. By Russian standards, this is a province. However, the situation is very unusual for the province, as everything is not Russian. I can’t imagine a town or village in the region without wooden huts with chimneys, rickety fences, flowers on the window sills and broken roads that have sunk almost to the ground up to the windows. This is the difference, although Bulgaria is a former socialist, friendly country.
From Bansko you can go by bus to Sofia, it will be faster than by train through Septemvri, or you can return by narrow gauge railway to Septemvri and continue by train east to Plovdiv.
In 2013, the Bulgarian Railways (hereinafter referred to as BZD) for the first time in 30 years received new Turkish-made sleeping cars instead of the GDR ones that had served their time and were destroyed in the trash, which had been supplied in recent years a large number of claims and complaints. As a railway lover, I couldn’t miss this opportunity and bought a ticket for the night train from Varna to Sofia. One of the purposes of the trip was precisely my desire to test the updated Bulgarian rolling stock.
To begin with, I would like to explain the process of purchasing a ticket, as there are some unusual points. For example, the sale of tickets for sleeping cars on the Sofia-Varna-Sofia and Sofia-Burgas-Sofia routes closes one hour before the train's departure. Not only on the Internet, but also at the ticket office at the station. Conductors were prohibited from taking additional payments directly on the train, as before, due to the lack of cash registers. In addition, often for conductors it was additional, “left” income. I remember how I myself paid extra for a shelf in 2012, and, of course, did not receive a receipt. And now it’s inconvenient for those people who need to travel urgently - you won’t get into the sleeping car without prior reservation of a seat.
Train 2626 Varna-Sofia on the platform of the Varna station 10 minutes before departure.
The square in front of the very beautiful Varna train station. 
My train consists of 8 cars, exactly half of which are new Turkish sleeping bags. The rest of the composition is a rickety old 6-seater, which is categorically not recommended for overnight travel. 
I will announce the cost of tickets in euros so as not to bother with exchange rates. Most cheap ticket from Varna to Sofia in a 2nd class seated carriage costs 12 euros. A ticket for a 1st class seated carriage (this is how I will travel back) will cost 15 euros. The difference is very small, but the chairs are a little more comfortable and the occupancy rate is low, so it’s a little more comfortable. 
A sleeping car with 3-seater compartments in Bulgaria was also divided into categories: second class, business class and first class, depending on the number of passengers in the compartment (18, 21 and 23 euros respectively). I took the cheapest ticket for myself for 18 euros, logically assuming that the weekday compartment was unlikely to be completely entertaining. That's what happened in the end. My neighbor turned out to be only one person, a Bulgarian about 50 years old, on a business trip. That means I got business class for the price of second class :) Yes, women and men are separated into separate compartments, so those who want to have a pretty young lady as a neighbor (as in Russian trains, for example) will be disappointed :) 
Well, we enter the carriage and immediately find a camera. Are we under video surveillance? 
Three-seater coupe. The car is fresh and clean, although it has been in use for two years. And here’s one more detail - the coupe is quite spacious and voluminous, Turkish standard. In Turkey, sleeping cars on night trains are very decently equipped and the car builders there don’t put any pressure on useful territory at the passenger. This is a plus; my neighbor and I were quite comfortable. 
And this photo is full of disadvantages, which I’ll explain now. To begin with, in the upper right corner, the socket covered with white plastic turned out to be inoperative. I couldn't charge my phone or camera battery. Next, there was no water or soap in the washbasin. There was no water in the morning either. I took bottled water in plastic with me on the road and used it to wash my face in the morning. And another interesting structural surprise - the absence of a table. That is, the current Euro passenger is not allowed to eat in the compartment. Fried chicken, boiled eggs, etc. on the list... this is not here, because Europe. The passenger needs to enter the compartment, lie quietly on the bunk and fall asleep, and wake up 30 minutes before arrival and leave the carriage. There is also no dining car, and the conductor does not sell tea, coffee and drinks due to the already mentioned lack of a cash register. It is unclear why the railways do not solve this problem; after all, the train travels for more than 8 hours, even at night. I know that the Belarusian Railways fleet has bistro cars, but their inclusion in the train is carried out according to some special principles. In the summer, apparently, or with increased passenger traffic. I am a prepared person and always take something from the store with me on the road, but a real Euro passenger can easily get an emotional shock in this case. 
But there is enough space for luggage, and all sorts of temperature control buttons are also available. 
The staircase is located in the corner and, if necessary, moves along a special rail. 
Individual lighting and a button to call the conductor. 
A cabinet of unknown purpose. For shoes or small bags. IMHO there is room for at least a small folding table. The Turks created a carriage according to European standards, and they even have a refrigerator in the compartment. 
Shower stall at the end of the carriage. 
Toilet, only one of the two was open. In the second there was no water. I then discussed this issue with the railway workers. Their general message is that the carriage is stuffed with cheap and often faulty electronics, which ultimately creates some everyday inconveniences on the way. 
One more view of the compartment and soon I went to bed. The bed linen was clean and fresh, and the pillow was soft. We left Varna at 21:55, were supposed to arrive in Sofia at 6:10, but were 20 minutes late. Not critical, this happens often. 
The conductor walked around the carriage half an hour before the official arrival time and woke everyone up with an energetic knock on the door wishing good morning :) 
And four hours later I was boarding the return train to Varna. 
We had to spend seven and a half hours on the road in a daytime sit-down. For added comfort, I didn’t skimp and took a 1st class ticket.
Retro-exotic Bulgarian Railways leesider wrote in July 13th, 2015
The other day we made a short trip from Varna to the small town of Provadia, where on a high plateau there are the remains of an ancient fortress, which offers quite decent views of the city itself and the surrounding area. I’ll tell you about the fortress next time, there’s really nothing special to tell, it’s worth going there for the beautiful scenery - several historical walls straightened by restorers may only be of interest to serious fans of such fortifications. But as a weekend trip, this option has a right to exist. Moreover, from Varna, where thousands of tourists vacation, there is a convenient and regular train connection. We also took advantage of the train on such a short trip, so today we are talking about Bulgarian trains, carriages and stations.
The distance from Varna to Provadia is 54 kilometers, and a regular train covers them in less than an hour. We decided to have a little fun and ride in 1st class. Here I am, of course, being ironic; there is practically no difference between first and second class, with the exception of the seat layout. The difference in ticket price is also completely insignificant. For example, from Varna to Sofia the fare is 12 and 15 euros, respectively, although for poor Bulgarians a few euros still play a role in choosing the class of carriage for the trip. 
Meanwhile, we head to the train, having bought a ticket at the ticket office. Not long ago it became possible to purchase a ticket via the Internet. A hot topic during the holidays and summer popular destinations. 
Here it is, the fast Varna-Sofia. It's not because it's fast, it only makes a few stops along the way. In general, the rolling stock of the Bulgarian railways froze about 30 years ago in its development, without increasing either in speed or in comfort. The carriages and locomotives are quite old and are not being updated. 
6-seater 1st class compartment. At first glance it is relatively clean, but there is a subtle sense of general wear and tear. 
I went to the electric locomotive - an old Czech locomotive built in 1979. 
Passage. The windows, by the way, come off both here and in the compartment. 
Well-worn better times WC. 
For comparison, a couple of photos of 2nd grade taken a month earlier. 
The only difference is the number of places in the compartments. There are eight of them here. It seems to me that it is rather difficult to travel in such a filled compartment. Eight passengers will not feel comfortable in such a small space. Therefore, 1st class is preferable for me on long trips (for Bulgaria). Previously, I traveled several times at night over short distances, and in 1st class, due to the slightly higher fare and fewer passengers, it is possible to stretch out on three seats and take a little nap. 
And we're already on our way. One of the stations along the way. In the 70s, Bulgarian railways were actively electrified and modernized, new cars and locomotives were introduced, and modern and functional stations for that time were built. Today, the once lively stations look extremely neglected and sad. 
By the way, the train station in Varna is nice and elegant. 
The station in Ruse is also good - a very interesting example of Stalinist architecture, the most beautiful railway building in Bulgaria. 
Most of the stations are very similar. 
On the other side stands the most modern train of the Bulgarian Railways. - Siemens diesel train. Several years ago, such trains, used in commuter service, were introduced to the public with pomp. 
The Bulgarian Railways actually have a lot of problems that cannot be solved in a short period of time. These include extreme wear and tear and obsolescence of rolling stock, staff reductions and regular attempts to cancel trains, which are often met with mass protests. The situation is difficult, stagnant and cannot be solved in one day. A poor state cannot cope on its own, and the EU dictates its own conditions, insisting on optimizing costs - in particular, on maintaining passenger transportation, promising in return funding and assistance in modernizing popular areas.
Outside the window there were gorgeous fields of sunflowers. 
A large marshalling yard, trains are formed here for the vast Varna industrial zone and to the ports. 
Abandoned railway along the route. 
More sunflowers. Still beautiful. 
Arrived in Provadia. A minute later the train departs further, and we go to see the local attractions. 
A couple of hours later, already on the way back, there was time to take a walk around the station. 
It's warm and picturesque in the south. The station is located in a valley between two high plateaus. 
I noticed an advertisement for the recruitment of students to the railway school. I wonder if they are then given jobs in light of the regular staff cuts? 
Deserted waiting room. 
The scheme of the Bulgarian Railways is still a quite extensive network. Trains run regularly and on schedule, but their appearance and the state of the infrastructure are far from ideal. 
Our train will arrive soon. 
On the way back we came across a different version of 1st class, not a compartment, but an open carriage with a 2+1 seat arrangement. There is already air conditioning and the windows are blocked. By the way, there are sockets in all cars, but there is no Wi-Fi. There is also no buffet car. This is a minus. For example, the train from Sofia to Varna takes more than 7 hours. It should still be possible to buy tea, coffee and water. However, passengers are aware of this nuance. 
A short summary in conclusion.
On the downsides - the carriages are worn out and old, not very clean, lack of at least basic catering (important for long distances) and low travel speed (especially on secondary lines). You can put up with the last point for a while if you have comfortable and clean carriages, which you don’t currently have.
On the plus side - very inexpensive and, in a way, European railway romance and exoticism in retro style. 
