Sofia tram system
Encyclopedia
The Sofia Tramway began operation 1 January 1901. The current system includes over 300 km of narrow and standard
gauge track. Most of the track is narrow gauge, with standard gauge used on lines 20, 22 and 23, accounting for 40 km of the system length.
In the period between 1901 and 1931 large numbers of tractor cars and carriages were delivered by different European producers. In 1931 began the construction of Bulgarian carriages under the supervision of the engineer Teodosiy Kardalev. These were known as the Kardalev's carriages. In 1936 the first Bulgarian tractor cars were produced under the brand DTO (which stands for the Bulgarian Directsiya na tramvaite i osvetlenieto - Bureau for trams and lighting, owned by the municipality). Initially old chassis
were used for the production.
In 1934 in the territory of the modern urban municipality Krasno selo
was constructed the first large tram depot. On that place in 1951 was built a factory for the production of tram motor cars which succeeded Kardalev's workshop of DTO. Up to 1959 it produced 155 motor car DTO and Republika which were the first fully Bulgarian trams. The last tram, T8M-900 was made in 1991 and is still in use. Since then the factory is used to repair and renovate old trams.
The first line with the standard gauge of 1,435 mm was inaugurated in 1987. Up to that time all lines were narrow gauge (1,009 mm). Eight years later, in 1995, was finished the second line with standard gauge which remains the last line constructed in the capital.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
gauge track. Most of the track is narrow gauge, with standard gauge used on lines 20, 22 and 23, accounting for 40 km of the system length.
History
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 carriages which covered 6 lines with total length of 23 km and gauge of 1,000 mm.In the period between 1901 and 1931 large numbers of tractor cars and carriages were delivered by different European producers. In 1931 began the construction of Bulgarian carriages under the supervision of the engineer Teodosiy Kardalev. These were known as the Kardalev's carriages. In 1936 the first Bulgarian tractor cars were produced under the brand DTO (which stands for the Bulgarian Directsiya na tramvaite i osvetlenieto - Bureau for trams and lighting, owned by the municipality). Initially old chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
were used for the production.
In 1934 in the territory of the modern urban municipality Krasno selo
Krasno selo
Krasno selo is a district and neighbourhoood of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located in the western part of the city. The main thoroughfare in the neighbourhood is Tsar Boris III Boulevard....
was constructed the first large tram depot. On that place in 1951 was built a factory for the production of tram motor cars which succeeded Kardalev's workshop of DTO. Up to 1959 it produced 155 motor car DTO and Republika which were the first fully Bulgarian trams. The last tram, T8M-900 was made in 1991 and is still in use. Since then the factory is used to repair and renovate old trams.
The first line with the standard gauge of 1,435 mm was inaugurated in 1987. Up to that time all lines were narrow gauge (1,009 mm). Eight years later, in 1995, was finished the second line with standard gauge which remains the last line constructed in the capital.
List of tram lines in Sofia
| 1 | Central Railway Station - Nadlez Nadejda |
| 3 | Zaharna Fabrika - Sofia Central Railway Station - Orlandovci quarter |
| 4 | Buckstone blvd. - Macedonia sq. - Orlandovci quarter |
| 5 | Courthouse - Krasno selo market - Kniajevo quarter |
| 6 | Lozenets (Spartak swimming pool) - The Five corners (Pette kyosheta) - Obelya 2 quarter |
| 7 | Borovo quarter - NDK National Palace of Culture The National Palace of Culture , located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest multifunctional congress, conference, convention and exhibition centre in Southeastern Europe... - The Five corners (Pette kyosheta)- Central railway station |
| 8 | Lyulin Lyulin (municipality) Lyulin is the largest residential complex in the capital of Bulgaria -- Sofia. It is located in the western outskirts of city and is divided into 10 micro-regions. The complex has a population of 240,000 and is at the disposal of all kinds of public transport.Lyulin is a relatively new district... -5 complex - Vardar Vardar The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is .... boulevard - Courthouse |
| 10 | Zapaden Park - Mall of Sofia Mall of Sofia Mall of Sofia is a shopping mall in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was opened on 9 June 2006 and is located at the intersection of Aleksandar Stamboliyski Boulevard and Opalchenska Street in the centre of the city... - Korab Planina str. |
| 11 | Nikola Petrov Nikola Petroff Nikola Petrov , better known as Nikola Petroff, was a Bulgarian wrestler.He was born in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria. On 20 July 1898, in New York, he earned the title "Champion of America". In the next year in Vienna, he became the European Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling... boulevard - Todor Alexandrov boulevard - Ilianci quarter |
| 12 | Journalist square - Hristo Botev boulevard - Ilianci quarter |
| 18 | Russian Embassy - Slaveikov square - Orlandovci quarter |
| 19 | Nikola Petkov Nikola Petkov Nikola Dimitrov Petkov was a Bulgarian politician, one of the leaders of the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union . He entered politics in the early 1930s. Like many other peasant party leaders in Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria in 1945-1947, Petkov was tried and executed soon after postwar Soviet... boulevard - Krasna Poliana quarter - Sofia North Railway Station |
| 20 | Iskar Depot - Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard , shortly referred to as Dondukov, is an important central boulevard in Sofia. It is named after the Russian general and statesman Alexander Dondukov-Korsakov. It lies between the TZUM and the Chavdar bridge... - Central Sofia Market Hall Central Sofia Market Hall The Central Sofia Market Hall , known popularly simply as The Market Hall is a covered market in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located on Marie Louise Boulevard... - Opalchenska Metro Station Opalchenska Metro Station Opalchenska Metro Station is a station on the Sofia Metro in Bulgaria. It started operation on September 17, 1999.-Location:The station is located under "Todor Aleksandrov" in the section between Opalchenska and Otets Paisiy... |
| 22 | Autostation East - Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard , shortly referred to as Dondukov, is an important central boulevard in Sofia. It is named after the Russian general and statesman Alexander Dondukov-Korsakov. It lies between the TZUM and the Chavdar bridge... - Central Sofia Market Hall Central Sofia Market Hall The Central Sofia Market Hall , known popularly simply as The Market Hall is a covered market in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located on Marie Louise Boulevard... - Krasna Polyana Depot |
| 23 | Mladezhki theater - Iskarsko Shose Street -Kopenhagen Boulevard - Obikolna Street |
See also
- List of rapid transit systems
- Sofia MetroSofia MetroThe Sofia Metropolitan is the underground urban railway network servicing the Bulgarian capital Sofia. It is the first and only network of this kind in Bulgaria...
- Sofia Public TransportSofia Public TransportSofia Public Transport is served by the Sofia Urban Mobility Center . The company has a large fleet of buses, trolleybuses and trams which pass throughout the city.-Tram routes:...
- Trolleybuses in SofiaTrolleybuses in SofiaThe Sofia trolleybus system forms part of the public transport network of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.In operation since 1941, the system presently comprises nine routes.-History:...