Narrow-gauge Railway between Velingrad and Avramovo, Bulgaria

Join a train ride of the only narrow gauge railway in Bulgaria! We'll travel the most picturesque part of the tracks between Velingrad and Avramovo to reach the highest railway station on the Balkans. More about the region: https://ntripping.com/velingrad/ Narrow-gauge trains are a rarity throughout the world. In mountainous places such as the Bulgarian highlands, where the trails take numerous turns and go through countless tunnels, the narrow-gauge trains are the only means of transportation for hundreds of people. The 760-mm-wide railway Septemvri – Velingrad – Dobrinishte is the last remaining of its kind in Bulgaria. Due to the terrain, the average speed of the trains is 40 km/h (25 mph). Hence, the distance of 125 km (78 mi) is travelled in about 5 hours. The most spectacular part of the railway is between the train stations Velingrad - the Spa Capital of the Balkans - and the small village Avramovo. The tracks follow the curves of the Rhodope Mountains between mesmerising hills, by green meadows, through pine tree forests, and numerous tunnels. The ride takes exactly one hour. The last 9 km before Avramovo, the train passes through 16 tunnels and travels an 8-shaped serpentine. It then arrives at the highest train station on the Balkans, located at an altitude of 1267 m (4157 ft.) above sea level. Riding the narrow-gauge train is like time travel. The line was constructed between the 1920s and the 1940s and it seems like time has stopped in the villages whose train stations you’ll pass. Some of the station buildings haven’t been renovated since their construction.