THE OVEN! - 45°C - Ruse to Sofia - ICT 461 - BDZ Rail - Part 2

This is a continuation of our trip from #Bucuresti in Romania to Sofia in Bulgaria via train. This is the second leg of the trip, which is over 6 hours on the ICT 461 run by BDZ or Bulgarian State Rail.

I called this 'the oven' as the heat inside this non-airconditioned train on the hottest summer day of 2021 so far, was just crazy. As I have said previously, being ex Army and having endured some pretty arduous conditions myself, I am not one to complain. This however, was the type of heat inside that was dangerous and could cause people issues, especially the elderly.

If you are riding these trains in the height of Summer, stock up on water before boarding.

The carriages are a little dated, but all work well and functional and no issues there at all, as just the heat! Once the train reached the #Vratsa Balkan mountain area to the North East, about 90mins from Sofia, the temperature dropped as the sun set. This part of the trip as the train follows the #Iskar River around the base of the Vratsa Balkan area, is stunning. A very scenic and beautiful part of the trip.

Not a trip I would make again in summer on this train as the beauty of the ride itself and the scenery and just the joy of train travel, was lost because of the heat.

[pauldumitrescu]

happy to live this part of the world! great great potential!!!

[drksoft]

BIG LIKE BRO. FRUMOS SI IN BULGARIA ;)

[Ostruszak]

Can anyone tell me what train is in 8:07 just before Pleven? A big loco + 1 car, probably some regional because of DMU failure...
It's not best option to travel by train in any Balkan country in middle of summer - even when it have AC, this working bad or at all. I remember travel in june 2015 on Siemens DMU in Romania - 37'C outside in Craiova, AC failure and just little ajar windows; after 3 hours we refreshed by spring water on Pausa station and luckily the mountain air was cooler on further way to Sibiu.
Looking from outside Romania have better trains, but Bulgaria have better tracks - your feeling could be much worse if the train ride 60-80 kph (like on 3/4 of CFR lines) instead of 100-120 kph which we can see in video. But you're right - international long-d. train should keep some minimal level (like Dacia or Corona) but you know perfectly that any balkan country don't keep in mind to improve a cross-border connections; f.e. any CFR train to Serbia? Or where is the nigth train to Sofia better to avoid terrible hot which will repeat every summer?

[fairvlad]

It is quite shameful that we didn't invest in the (probably best) mode of transport.
That being said it's more like sauna with a view, am I right ? :))

[wappitaify]

Hi, I am having trouble purchasing tickets from Bucharest to Ruse, could you please tell me which website did you get them from? 😀

[yogiaol]

The track is renovated, the train is clean. We are not Germoney! The short distances are with modern trains with air condition, such that train you see in Pleven. The train Bucharest-Ruse was also regional train. The sleeping trains in Bulgaria are very modern, with air condition.

[achitobaychev]

Hi I'm boy from pancakes can I see me in ur video?

[mowtow]

This the main problem with BDZ. The old stock is becuase of the gov policy of keeping a "social service". This is how the trains are called in Bulgaria and why the prices for rides are so low. The gov uses BDZ to provide cheap transport for the poor. Pretty much BDZ operates every passinger train at loss (unless its pack full, then is at 0 and few times on small +) The rest is payed by tax payer. Their only real income is from cargo transport however the profit from it goes to repay loans.
In 2006 large number of EMUs ware purchased from Simens to fase out the old Soviet Elektrichkas - those are still been payed for.
At leas someone with little brain in the previous major goverment found out that the only way BDZ can operate at this handycaped state is if the gover flip the bill for new trains. In 2020 and 2021 a big batch of brand new Simens locos ware purchased which cut the delays on BDZ as they didnt had enaugh working locos.
There was also testing of OBB EMUs in late 2020 for purchase.
The same gov also put a large order for passinger cariges (both referbished and brand new for the expresses - all air conditioned). Unfortunatly after the order the gov was changed and Bulgaria is now in its 2ned year of political instability.
As far as I'm aware, the cariges ware put on hold from 1 of the various govs that ware put on and I have no idea when they will be delivered. Same goes for the EMUs. Pretty much the only good thing BDZ saw ware the Simens Smartrons. + The referbishment of the lines wihch is done by EU.

[pauldumitrescu]

BG AIN'T YET WHAT IT SHOULD BE, A PARADISE FOR TOURISTS! sorry for the letters :))

[adrianberbec]

Ai belit belengherul te omoara caldura...he he pe noi nu englezoiule😂