The Workforce and Pricing of Bulgarian State Railways
Who Keeps the Trains Running The Railway Personnel
The Bulgarian State Railway system employs a large number of people to keep the national network running smoothly and efficiently. The entire staff consists of 2,384 employees. This large workforce is carefully divided into two primary groups: the Central Administration staff and the Working Departments staff Sofia City Tour.
The Central Administration has 197 officials and employees. These are the people who manage planning, paperwork, and high-level decisions from the main office in Sofia. The largest central teams are the Department of Traffic (54 people) and the Department of Commerce (43 people), which manage everything from setting train schedules to handling business contracts. The smaller teams like Maintenance and Traction focus on the technical oversight of the rail equipment and tracks from an administrative level. The staff is organized into many sections, including the Administrative Section, Section of Accounts, and the Section of Plant (which deals with physical assets).
The Operational Teams on the Ground
The vast majority of the staff, totaling 2,187 people, work in the Working Departments. These are the operational teams directly responsible for the trains, the tracks, and the stations, ensuring daily service runs well.
The single biggest group of employees is found in the Stations department, which has 707 employees. These are the customer-facing roles, including station masters, ticket agents, and platform staff. This large number shows a strong focus on serving passengers and managing the flow of people and goods at every stop.
Other critical operational departments include:
Maintenance (526 staff): These workers are essential for keeping the tracks safe, repairing infrastructure, and preventing breakdowns.
Traction (407 staff): This includes the engine drivers and the mechanical teams responsible for keeping the locomotives running.
Transports (412 staff): This team handles the logistics of moving freight and passengers.
Sanitation (22 staff): This small but vital team ensures health and cleanliness across the network.
This heavy investment in operational staff shows a strong commitment to both safety and service quality across the railway network.
Understanding Passenger Ticket Prices (Tariffs)
The ticket prices, or tariffs, for passenger transport are based on two main factors: the distance traveled between stations and the cost of existing transportation options. This process helps ensure that ticket prices are fair and competitive within the region.
The Bulgarian State Railways operates using a wide variety of tariffs, reflecting its critical position as a transit country in Europe. Beyond the basic Local Tariff (for travel only within Bulgaria), the system connects seamlessly with international routes through various agreements:
Neighboring Tariffs: Prices are set for travel connecting directly with the Oriental Railways, which often links towards Turkey.
Major European Connections: Specific tariffs cover travel to and from many European countries, including Austria-Hungary, Servia, Switzerland, and Turkey.
German Transit: Separate pricing structures manage passenger traffic flowing from both Northern Germany and Southern Germany toward the East.
Western Europe: Tariffs are also set for travel originating as far away as France and Belgium, outlining specific routes that cross Central Europe.
Maritime and River Links: Importantly, special tariffs exist for journeys that combine train travel with water transport. These connect the railway system with major shipping companies, such as the Austro-Hungarian Danube Steamship Company and the local Bulgarian Commercial Society for Navigation, allowing passengers to easily transfer between rail and river routes.
This complex system of tariffs highlights the international importance of the Bulgarian railway network in connecting Western Europe with the East.