Trams in Sofia

The Sofia tram network is a vital part of the public transportation system of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It began operation on January 1, 1901.[2] As of 2006, the tram system included approximately 308 kilometres (191 miles)[2] of narrow and standard gauge one-way track.[2] Most of the track is narrow gauge (1,009 mm or 3 ft 3 23⁄32 in), with standard gauge (1,435 mm or 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) used on lines 20, 22 and 23 and accounting for approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the system's track length.[2]

Sofia tramway network
Pesa Swing in Sofia
Operation
LocaleSofia, Bulgaria
Open1 January 1901
StatusIn operation
Lines14[1]
Owner(s)Capital (Sofia) municipality
Operator(s)Sofia Public Electrical Transport Company JSC
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,009 mm (3 ft 3 23⁄32 in) and
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge[2]
Stock176[2]
Statistics
Track length (single)308 km (191 mi)[2]
Route length~154 km (96 mi)
Stops165[1]

History
Tram in Knyazhevo, 1901

On 1 December 1898 the capital municipality gave concessions for building tram lines to French and Belgian companies. Construction took place for a little more than a year and the first tram line was inaugurated on 1 January 1901. Initially the population was served by 25 motor cars and 10 trailers which covered six lines with total length of 23 kilometres (14 mi) and a gauge of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge.[2]

The network in 1909

In the period between 1901 and 1931 large numbers of motor cars and trailers were purchased from different European manufacturers. In 1931 Bulgaria started building their own carriages under the supervision of the engineer Teodosiy Kardalev. These were known as Kardalev's carriages. In 1936 the first Bulgarian motor cars were produced under the brand DTO (Дирекция на трамваите и осветлението - Direktsia na tramvaite i osvetlenieto: Department for trams and lighting, owned by Sofia municipality). Initially old frames were used for the production.[3]

In 1934 the first large tram depot was built in the Krasno selo district. In 1951 there was constructed a factory to build newer model tram cars.

In 1951 the T4M-221 (Republic), which is considered the highest quality Bulgarian tram, was produced in DTO. The T4M-221 is the first Bulgarian four-row tram. The "Republic" model was in production in 1951 and 1959, bearing the numbers 221 to 240. They also had trailers numbered 521-544. The motor cars, along with their trailers, mainly worked on line 5. They were assigned to the Krasno Selo tram depot (later Krasna Polyana). In 1981 motor car 240 and wagon 540 were rebuilt and put into operation for about a year. The 240 motor car and trailer 538 are still alive today and expected to be restored. The original stock was 240 + 540, but 540 disappears from the Krasna Polyana depot in unexplained circumstances and again in unexpected circumstances trailer 538 is found. The ,,Republika" model was in operation until 1978.

This tram manufacturer (known as Трамваен завод - Tramvaen zavod: Tram plant) was named "Трамкар" (Tramkar: Tram car) in 1990 and was a registered company Tramkar till 2008. Through 1959 it produced 155 DTO and Republika motors, which were the first fully Bulgarian-built trams. The last tram, T8M-900 was delivered in 1991 and is still in use.[2] Since then the factory has been used to repair and renovate old trams.

In 2017 the network was complemented with 28 second-hand Be 4/6 S "gherkin" trams partly donated from the BVB section of the tram network of Basel. The trams were constructed in 1990-91 and had low-floor sections inserted in their centre in 1997-99. They replaced older vehicles on lines 6, 8 and 12.

Sofia's first standard gauge tram line was opened in 1987. Until that time all lines were nominally metre gauge, but actually constructed to a width of 1,009 mm (3 ft 3 23⁄32 in). Eight years later, in 1995, the second standard gauge line was finished. No other tram lines have been built since then, as Sofia has focused its efforts on the construction of its metro system.[2]

Lines
Sofia tramway network as of 2014

As of August 2020, the following lines operate:

1 Ivan Vazov - NDK - Macedonia Square - Sofia Central Station - Kn. M. Luiza Metro Station
3 Zaharna Fabrika - Konstantin Velichkov Metro Station - Sofia Central Station - Orlandovtsi
4 Nikola Petkov - Krasno selo - Macedonia Square - St. Nedelya sq. - Orlandovtsi
5 Knyazhevo - Krasno selo - Macedonia Square - Sofia Court House
6 Ivan Vazov - NDK - Macedonia Square - Sofia Central Station - Beli Dunav Metro Station - Obelya
7 Borovo - NDK - Macedonia Square - Sofia Central Station - Han Kubrat Metro Station
8 Lyulin-5 - Vardar Metro Station - Macedonia Square - Sofia Court House
10 Zapaden Park - Macedonia Square - Srebarna str. - Vitosha Metro Station
11 Knyazhevo - Konstantin Velichkov Metro Station - Iliyantsi
12 Iliyantsi - Sofia Central Station - St. Nedelya sq. - Journalist sq.
18 Orlandovtsi - St. Nedelya sq. - Journalist sq.
20 Iskar Depot - Poduyane railway station - Central Sofia Market Hall - Opalchenska Metro Station
22 East station - Poduyane railway station - Konstantin Velichkov Metro Station - Krasna polyana Depot
23 Geo Milev - Iskarsko Shose - Obikolna Street
  1,009 mm (3 ft 3 23⁄32 in) metre gauge (nominally)
  1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

See also

References
  1. "Route network of tram lines of Sofia's public transportation" (PDF). Sofia Urban Mobility Center. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  2. "Urban transport - History of Sofia Trams". Sofia Urban Mobility Center. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  3. History of the Sofia tram, Georgi Aleksandrov Archived 2009-05-25 at Archive.today, retrieved on 2009-10-04.

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