Railway Herald
Probably the most interesting tram line in the Bulgarian capital Sofia is that of Route 23, the only tram service to be operated by Bi-direction cars on part of the standard gauge section of the dual gauge system. Route 23 is worked by aging Duewag GT8 Pendel trams that first saw service in Bonn, Germany. Constructed in 1959/1960 13 examples were purchased and duly entered Bulgarian service in 1995. The route requires two tram sets each day to work the half-hourly service. Exactly how many of these tramcars remain in service today is unclear but it is known that by 2020 the fleet was down to just four examples from the original thirteen. Their final retirement and subsequent replacement is said to be imminent. Tram Set No. 4410 prepares to leave Obikolna Street for Geo Milev on 25th March 2025.
Stephen Ginn
