Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is inviting residents of Burgas to a discussion about the 2027 train schedule. The company is preparing a new timetable for train services and wants to discuss it with the public and local authorities before finalizing it. The meetings will take place in Gorna Oryahovitsa, Plovdiv and Sofia on October 5, 6 and 7, the company's press office announced.

Representatives of BDZ Passenger Services, the state-owned National Railway Infrastructure Company, Ivkoni Express and other stakeholders will take part in the discussions. The goal is for the schedule to be coordinated with regional and municipal authorities and with local residents so that each region's transport needs are taken into account.

In drafting the plan, railway officials took into account restrictions caused by large-scale construction projects across the network. Traffic is most heavily affected in the Sofia railway hub and along the Sofia–Plovdiv line, where capacity on some of the country's busiest sections is being reduced.

According to BDZ, the new schedule brings changes that will offer more travel options and better connections between regions.

For Burgas, the timetable along the Sub-Balkan line is of direct relevance — additional daytime express trains will run between Sofia and the coastal city with a minimal number of stops and convenient connections. Express No. 301 will depart from Sofia at 10:00, while in the opposite direction, express No. 302 will leave Burgas at 10:40.

A new direct connection between north-central and southeastern Bulgaria will be provided by fast trains No. 2631 and No. 2632 on the Sofia–Pleven–Shumen–Burgas route and back. For passengers from Vidin and northwestern Bulgaria, these trains will offer a convenient connection.

For southwestern Bulgaria, express No. 502 from Petrich to Sofia is planned, departing at 09:20, with a connection in the capital to Burgas and Varna. In the opposite direction, express No. 503 will leave Sofia for Petrich at 15:35 and will carry passengers arriving from Burgas and Varna.

There will also be more travel options for northwestern Bulgaria. Express No. 701 will depart from Vidin to Sofia at 07:25, while No. 702 will leave Sofia for Vidin at 14:15. At Mezdra-South station there will be a connection with fast trains No. 2631 and No. 2632 to and from Burgas. In addition, two existing trains will have their routes extended — fast train No. 7631 will run from Lom to Sofia, and train No. 7620 will run directly from Sofia to Vidin.

A new afternoon express, No. 803, is planned for southern Bulgaria. It will depart from Sofia for Burgas via Plovdiv at 16:00. In the opposite direction, express No. 802 will leave Burgas at 08:20.

Four new express trains will run in the morning and afternoon on the Sofia–Varna line. From Sofia, No. 201 will depart at 06:45, and No. 203 at 15:10. From Varna to Sofia, No. 202 will leave at 06:30, and No. 204 at 15:30.

A direct connection between southern and northern Bulgaria without the need to change trains will also be provided by express trains No. 303 and No. 304, which will link Sofia, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven and Varna.

For passengers traveling to and from Svishtov, Lovech and Troyan, more and better connections are planned at Levski station with trains to and from Sofia, Varna and Ruse.

Two trains will be added on the narrow-gauge line. A train will depart from Septemvri to Velingrad at 11:20, with a connection for passengers from Sofia and Burgas. At 15:45, a train will leave Velingrad for Septemvri with a connection to Burgas.

On the Peshtera–Bratsigovo–Krichim line, all trains will have their routes extended to Plovdiv, giving the towns along the route a direct rail connection to the regional center.

Regional rail service around Sofia remains unchanged in the new plan.

Customers of BDZ Passenger Services can send suggestions and comments on the plan directly to the company at [email protected] by October 11, 2026. All submissions received will be reviewed, after which it will be determined how relevant they are and whether they can be incorporated into the final schedule.

BTA recalls that the 2026 schedule preserved the volume of services set out in the public service contract with the state. Passengers travel on 518 trains — including 79 fast trains (two of which run only in summer), 117 passenger trains and 322 suburban passenger trains, some of which operate only on certain days of the week.