On October 8, 2024, it will be 124 years old from the opening of the railway line Ruse - Tarnovo, writes dunavmost.com. This important transport corridor, with a length of 130 kilometers, was put into operation on October 8, 1900, connecting two of the most important cities in Northern Bulgaria.
The history of railway construction in our country began during the Ottoman rule. The first railway line in Bulgaria, connecting Ruse and Varna, was built by the English company of the brothers Henry and Trevor Berkeley. They received a concession for 99 years from the Ottoman government, and on November 7, 1866, they officially opened the 223-kilometer long line.
Unfortunately, the construction of this first railway link was associated with the destruction of valuable historical monuments. During its construction, stones were used from the remains of the medieval Bulgarian city of Pliska, which has been relatively well preserved until now.
In 1874, the English company transferred the operation of the railway to the "Eastern Railways" company, owned by Baron Hirsch. In the period 1870-1874, "Eastern Railways" expand the network by building the Lyubimets - Belovo and Simeonovgrad - Nova Zagora - Yambol lines. The total length of railway lines in Bulgaria, owned by Baron Hirsch, reaches 309.6 kilometers.
An important moment in the development of the Bulgarian railways occurred in 1909, when the state bought the railway lines from Baron Hirsch for the sum of 43,294,347 gold leva. This action marks the beginning of the national management of the railway infrastructure in the country.
Today, 124 years after its opening, the Ruse - Tarnovo railway continues to play an important role in the transport system of Northern Bulgaria, connecting the Danube plain with the Old Capital and facilitating the movement of people and goods in the region.
Source: www.dunavmost.com