Railway Herald
Disaster struck just north of the capital City of Sofia on 15th January 2025 when a head-on collision occurred between a pair of BDZ Class 55s double-heading a westbound scrap metal working bound for Serbia and a PIMK Intermodal service from Bozhurishte to Burgas worked by Class 80 SIEMENS Smartron 80-013 with Ludmilla Class 07 No. 07-063 tucked in behind DIT. The collision took place on the single line section at Lokorsko approximately mid-way between Svetovrachane and Kremikovtsi, just before 4pm. Leading loco, 55-155 was all but completely destroyed with the two occupants losing their lives while 55-093 came to rest on its side some way from the track. The modern-build and crash worthiness of the Smartron clearly saved the lives of those on board 80-013, the loco severely damaged coming to a rest de-railed in an upright position. All six survivors were hospitalised, two in a serious condition. Pictured here just a couple of miles west of the accident spot is one of the locos involved, 55-093 captured in the passing loop at Svetovrachane on 18th October 2024 a mere three months before the accident. An immediate investigation was launched to ascertain how two opposite direction freight trains were able to occupy the single line route at the same time. The investigation is on-going.
Stephen Ginn
