Railway Herald
Kostinbrod as seen on 13th March 2025 is the latest location west of Sofia to suffer the mess and upheaval of the ongoing upgrading of the main line from Sofia to Dragoman and the Serbian border. What is currently predominantly a single track main line from Sofia through to Serbia and Europe beyond is being rebuilt to double-track modern standards. All sidings and passing loops have been lifted leaving just two roads in situ plus the connection to the nearby GASTRADE fuel/oil distribution centre. From the latter, empty bogie tanks await collection and tripping to Voluyak Yard. Passenger services between Sofia and Dragoman are currently severely disrupted during most of the working day, Kostinbrod being as far west as these services can run. Here, having terminated at Kostnibrod SIEMENS Desiro EMU 30-013/30-014 waits time for the return (12:53) departure to Sofia, a lay-over of two hours! Bus replacement services cover onward transit to/from the stations currently within the daytime engineering blockade.
Stephen Ginn
