Balkan Express (train)

The Balkan Express (Turkish: Balkan Ekspresi) is an overnight train operating between İstanbul and Belgrade, calling at Edirne, Plovdiv and Sofia. The train connects with the Bosphorus Express at Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria and continues to İstanbul.

This article is about the train. For the 1983 film, see Balkan Express.
Balkan Express
The Balkan/Bosphorus Express awaiting departure from Sirkeci Terminal with an E 52500 leading.
Overview
Service typeInterCity
StatusOperating
LocaleEuropean Turkey, central Bulgaria, central Serbia
First service1971
Current operator(s)TCDD, BDZ, ZS
Route
StartSirkeci Terminal, Istanbul
Stops8
EndBelgrade-Glavna, Belgrade
Average journey time21 hours, 55 minutes
Service frequencyDaily each way
Train number(s)490 (westbound), 491 (eastbound)
On-board services
Sleeping arrangementsPrivate sleeping room accommodation
Catering facilitiesDining car
Baggage facilitiesYes
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
ElectrificationIstanbul to Kapıkule, Krumovo to Dimitrovgrad, RS, Niš to Belgrade
Track owner(s)TCDD Istanbul-Kapıkule
BDZ Kapitan Andreevo-Kalotina
ZS Dimitrovgrad-Belgrade

History

The Balkan Express was launched on 1 January 1916[1] as a sleeping car service between Berlin and Istanbul. The twice weekly service had a schedule of 58 hours for the 1,200 miles (1,900 km),[2] and it ran through Dresden, Vienna, Belgrade and Sofia. Departures were from Berlin on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Istanbul on Tuesdays and Saturdays.[3] The train was discontinued in October 1918.[4]

From 1927 the name was given to a train service between the Hook of Holland and Istanbul.[5] With a connecting London and North Eastern Railway service from London Liverpool Street to boat train at Harwich, the journey time from London to Constantinople was 70 hours and 8 minutes. In 1935, the service was accelerated and three hours was cut from the schedule.[6]

In May 1955 a new Balkan Express was launched from Vienna via Graz and Belgrade (avoiding Bulgaria) to Athens and Istanbul.[7]

The current Balkan Express between İstanbul and Belgrade, calling at Edirne, Plovdiv and Sofia was launched in 1971.

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See also

References
  1. "The First Balkan Express". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 31 December 1915. Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "The first "Balkan Express"". Nantwich Guardian. England. 21 January 1916. Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Eastern Road. German Communications Threatened". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. England. 18 September 1916. Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Balkan Express stops running". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Scotland. 18 October 1918. Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Balkan Express". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. England. 14 May 1927. Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "The LNER are informed…". The Scotsman. Scotland. 11 May 1935. Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Balkan Express". Railway Gazette International. 107: 127. 1957.
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