Final Reports

On 15.07.2020 at 05:02 a.m. from Karlovo station departed DFT No 30682 of the railway undertaking „BDZ-Cargo“ Ltd. in a composition of 42 wagons empty tanks, 168 axles, 833 tonnage, pulled by electrical locomotive No 46041. The transport of DFT No 30682 is performed along the route Bourgas – Zimnitsa – Karlovo – Plovdiv – Sofia – Iliyantsi – Pirdop.

The train departed from Septemvri station at 09:12 a.m., passed without stopping through Belovo station at 09:24 a.m. The traffic manager on duty at Kostenets station after receiving the train departure prepared the route with for accepting the DFT No 30682 on third siding track.

The DFT No 30682 entered in Kostenets station within regularly opened entrance signal for third siding track. The train passed in deviation through switch No 15 (right) and then in curve (left) towards third track with running speed 25 km/h. The locomotive crew felt strong vibrations and jolts in the locomotive cabin, and undertook train stopping.

As a result of the accident - locomotive № 46041 derailed with the first and second wheel to the right in the direction of train movement.

Injured staff and others - no.

Minimal material damage was inflicted on the locomotive at the beginning of the third track at Kostenets station. The railway on the third track has rails type S 49 and sleepers - wood.

The movement of trains through Kostenets station was not stopped during the accident.

On 14.05.2020 at 18:12 hrs freight train № 80561 of "DB Cargo Bulgaria" EOOD has departed from Zlatitsa station to Burgas station. The train has consisted of 25 wagons filled with pyrite concentrate, 100 axles, 2150 tons. It has been served by an electric locomotive № 88030. The train has arrived at Todor Kableshkov station at 00:05 hrs.

The locomotive crews have shifted at Todor Kableshkov station and the train leaves on 15.05.2020 at 00:20 hrs. Approaching Nova Zagora station, the train travels at a speed of 65 km/h where the maximal permissible is 75 km/h. The train passes through the first entrance switches.  At switch № 20 the train passes with its locomotive and the first 5 wagons, but under the 6th wagon, between the two bogies, the switch reverses and the second bogie of the wagon deviates for the 2nd track. After the sixth wagon, 9 more are dragged and derail and 3 of them turn over. The train composition is torn at three places - between the 4th and 5th, between the 5th and 6th, and between the 6th and 7th wagons. The locomotive with the 5 wagons stops on the 4th track, in front of the station at 03:20 hrs.

As a result of the accident, 10 wagons have derailed, as 3 of them have turned with the cargo spilled, and the other 6 have derailed completely.

There are no injured staff and persons.

Enormous material damage is inflicted on the rolling stock and the railway infrastructure of the 3 railway switches, the output signal of the 4th track for the signalization is damaged and about 300 m of the railway, which has been upgraded in 2016 from S- 49 type rails to U 60 type rails.

The traffic through Nova Zagora station is stopped from 03:20 hrs to 08:10 hrs on 15.05.2020.

The movement of trains through Nova Zagora station is been restored along the 5th and 6th tracks.

ON NOVEMBER 12, 2019, PASSENGER TRAIN № 19205 OF / BDZ-PP / WITH EMT № 31-005 MOTORMAN AND TRAINMASTER MOVES IN THE DIRECTION PLOVDIV - ASENOVGRAD - PLOVDIV. AT 06:44 HRS THE TRAIN DEPARTS FROM KRUMOVO STATION IN THE DIRECTION OF ASENOVGRAD. AT LEVEL CROSSING AT KM 8 + 830 EQUIPPED WITH LEVER BARRIERS WHICH ARE NOT LOWERED BY THE CROSSING GUARD ON-DUTY, AT 6:53 HRS, THE TRAIN HITS A CAR WITH A DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS IN IT, THEN THE TRAIN CONTINUES ITS MOVEMENT AND ENTERS ASENOVGRAD STATION.THERE ARE NO VICTIMS AS A RESULT OF THE STRIKE. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR ARE INJURED.

THE CAR IS MOVED AWAY BY THE TRAIN AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DAMAGES ARE CAUSED ON EMT.

NO DAMAGE TO THE RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE TRAIN TRAFFIC HAS BEEN STOPPED FROM 07:11 TO 09:48 HRS FOR EXECUTION INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES BY THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR. 

On October 14, 2019, at 19:10 hrs, following the order of the senior dispatcher in FTU Gorna Oryahovitsa at BDZ "Freight Transport" EOOD, a diesel locomotive № 07065 exits Kaspichan OP to Kaspichan station. It had to be hitched at the station to Motor Tractor DGku-033 and both vehicles to leave for Sindel Distribution Station. The locomotive is let to pass on 14th track and directed to 4-th track where Rail Maintenance Car-033 of RS - Shumen is stationed. After preparing the route to 4th track, the locomotive starts, driven by the rearward-facing cab. Thus it strikes the motor tractor Rail Maintenance Car-033 and the same is displaced at 95 m but does not derail.

As a result of the impact, one motorman falls off the platform of the Rail Maintenanc Car between the tracks and receives severe injuries, while the other motorman, in the tractor cab, is slightly bruised and is taken to the EMC Shumen for treatment.

The motor tractor is severely damaged.

The locomotive brigade operating diesel locomotive № 07065 is not injured, no damage to the locomotive. 

On February 15, 2019, at 23:22 hours, (IDFT) № 48009 departs from Iliyantsi station to Plovdiv-distribution station. The train was transported by the railway carrier “Bulmarket Rail Cargo” EOOD. The train consists of two towing electric locomotives № 8686 and the auxiliary one, № 86003, followed by 27 wagons incl. 1 empty wagon for prevention, 25 tank cars filled with oil gas (propane-butane) and 1 empty wagon for prevention, 108 axles, 1895 tons. The train route is Iliyantsi - Karlovo - Plovdiv - Plovdiv - distribution. Departing from Iliyantsi train station, the train passes without stopping and features till Hristo Danovo station, where a meeting with freight train № 30620 occurs, and then leaves for Karlovo station. The train has changed the direction of movement at Karlovo train station and the locomotives respectively have changed their places.

After leaving Karlovo station at 02:57 hours, the train travels without stopping till the station of Graf Ignatievo and after a 1-minute stay leaves for Plovdiv station. At Plovdiv station, the train route is prepared for a reception without stopping on the second reception-dispatch track to Plovdiv-distribution station.

Upon train's leading locomotive № 86003 entering the area of the tongue part of railroad switch № 74 in Plovdiv station a vertical fracture of the left deflection tongue has followed, immediately before the passage of the first wheel pair axle of the leading locomotive. The breaking zone is realized in the transition from normal rail to tongue profile, where the shape and cross section of the divergent tongue are changed. This is followed by the derailment of the two locomotives with all the wheel pair axels and the first three wagons of the train to the left of the second track. The speed at the time of derailment has been 33 km/h at 04:15 hrs on February 16, 2019.

A notification from the motorman to DHT at Plovdiv station has followed and to other officials.

There are no injured personnel due to derailment. Damage to the railway infrastructure - railway, switch No. 74 and two SOA-3 switch apparatus, as well as to the security equipment occurred. Both locomotives and three wagons are damaged.

The traffic on the second track in Plovdiv station is stopped from February 16. till February 19, 2019.

On January 26th, 2019, at 14:55 pm, from Burgas Station to Pirdop Station, a freight train (FT) No. 30560, serviced by the railway carrier "DB Cargo Bulgaria" LTD, has left. The composition of the train is an electric locomotive No. 86018 who pulls the train, followed by three locomotives in idle mode and 33 empty wagons, 144 axles, 1068 tons. Route of traffic Burgas - Zimnitsa - Tulovo - Karlovo - Pirdop. The train had a reworking of the composition at the Karnobat and Zimnitsa Stations. Departing from the Zimnitsa Station towards the next stations, the train passed without stopping and peculiarities to Gavrailovo Station.

After leaving the train in the Gavrailovo - Shivachevo railway station at km 268 + 950, at 18:35 pm, the twenty-third empty wagon No.33 52 080 6 189-5 has derailed. The running speed at the time of derailment was 75 km / h. The wagon derails with a first axle on the first bogie, on the right in the direction of the movement and at arrow No. 1 at Shivachevo Station, the second axle also derailed. Passing without stopping on the third main track at Shivachevo Station at the station crossing, second wagon bogie derailed too. After 50 meters on arrow No. 2, as a result of twisting the buffers in the twenty-fourth, then empty wagon No. 33 52 592 8 528-6 is dragged to the left and derails with the two axles of the first bogie.

There was a notification of the traffic officer on duty at Shivachevo Station to the on-board train dispatcher, who ordered the shutdown of the contact network voltage. The train is stopped in the Shivachevo - Tvarditsa at km 262 + 720.

As a result of the derailment there were no injured personnel, there were damages to the railway infrastructure - railway 6230 m, damage to arrows 1 and 2 and damage to the platform between the second and third tracks at Shivachevo Station.

On April 09, 2019 at 16:33 hours a fast train (FT) № 8602 has left Burgas station to Sofia station, consisting of 5 wagons, 20 axles, 237 tons, serviced by electric locomotive № 46221.8. The fast train runs along Burgas - Stara Zagora - Plovdiv - Sofia.    The train has arrived at Stara Zagora Station by schedule at 18:31hours and after a two-minute stay, at 18:33 hours, it has departed. During the movement, the train has kept the section speed and the limitations along the railway. Upon entering Svoboda station, the locomotive brigade hears a strange noise coming from the locomotive's truck. The motorman undertakes a quick stop with the automatic train brake and the train stops at 18:56 hours at the station. After the inspection of the locomotive, the locomotive brigade doesn't find anything unusual and the train leaves Svoboda station at 19:02 hours. When the train leaves the station, the locomotive brigade senses a burned insulation smell and sees that the machine room is filled with smoke. The motorman undertakes a stop with the train brake and the train stops at 19:05 hours in Svoboda - Chirpan stage. The motorman enters the locomotive engine room and finds out that flames and smoke come out of the compressor. He takes off the pantograph and, together with the assistant motorman, they start extinguishing the fire with the fire extinguishers in the locomotive loaded with carbon dioxide. After using the fire extinguishers they fail to extinguish the fire and the  motorman calls the common emergency number 112. The locomotive brigade manages to dismantle the locomotive from the wagons and pulls it to a safe distance, notifies the services concerned in accordance with the established order.

In consequence of the fire in the electric locomotive № 46221, there were no injured personnel and injured passengers on the train,  damages are caused to the electric locomotive, no damages to the railway infrastructure.

On May 4, 2018, a fast train № 8613  composed by 5 passenger coaches, 208 tons, serviced by electric locomotive № 44121.9 leaves Sofia station. The train travels daily on the Train Traffic Schedule along the route Sofia – Plovdiv – Dimitrovgrad – Stara Zagora – Karnobat – Burgas and back. The train left Sofia station at 14:30h without technical defects. Till Druzhba station, the train moves normally without any irregularities detected by both the locomotive and the transport brigades. No Irregularities have been established also by the duty staff of the stations along the route. After passing transit Druzhba station at 21:28 h, while moving along Druzhba - Dolno Ezerovo section, the locomotive brigade senses the smell of a burnt cable insulation. The locomotive motorman looks into the engine room and sees it is filled with a dense black smoke and shuts off the Main Air Circuit Breaker (MACB) of the locomotive. Looking through the side windows, the locomotive brigade sees fire on both sides of locomotive from its cooling air intakes (CAI).

Upon entering Dolno Ezerovo Station on 3rd  track, the motorman alerts with "General Anxiety" signal and stops at 21:37h.

The Conductor takes immediate action to evacuate passengers from the train.

The Trainmaster informs 112 about the fire. The locomotive and transport brigades immediately undertake immediately extinguishing of the fire in the locomotive with the available fire extinguishers in the locomotive and coaches.

A RO FS&PP - Burgas mobile Fire Brigade arrives at Dolno Ezerovo Station at 21:55h and the fire is localized and suppressed at 00:50h.

No injured staff and passengers. The fire causes material damages to the electric locomotive № 44121.9.

On March 30, 2018, a fast train (FT) № 8613 composed by 4 coaches, 16 axles, 164 tons, serviced by electric locomotive № 43309.4, has departed Sofia station for Burgas station. The route of train movement is Sofia - Plovdiv - Dimitrovgrad - Stara Zagora - Burgas. At Plovdiv Station the locomotive and transport brigades are shifted according to the schedule. During the travel, the train has changed the direction of traffic at Dimitrovgrad station. Duty staff at the stations along the route hasn‘t  noticed anything unusual. The same is confirmed by the locomotive and transport brigades, who have served the train from Sofia station until it arrives at Konyovo station.

The train leaves  Nova Zagora station at 19:51h and arrives at Konyovo station at 19:59h (as evidenced by Konyvo Station II-76 log-book and the locomotive speed belt). According to "Plan II-24", the train is admitted on second reception and dispatch track and has to spend 5 minutes for a meeting, according to schedule for trains movement (STM), with the transiting fast train №8632 (Figure 1). After  FT № 8613 stops at the station, the duty head of movement sees smoke coming out between  3rd and 4th coaches. Soon after, a fire occurs at the end of  3rd coach. For the situation at the station, the duty head of movement informed the train dispatcher, who in turn ordered the duty head of the movement at Kermen station to hold FT № 8632 at Kermen station.

On October 12, 2017, electric locomotive № 44134.2 served fast train № 8693 in the composition of 4 wagons, 186 tons, on the route Sofia - Plovdiv - Burgas following the Schedule for the Movement of Trains. After its departure from Sofia station at 13:15, an indication of short-circuit to ground (mass) occurrence was activated in the locomotive. The locomotive brigade removed the visualization of the damage several times and signalled of the problem the Master at the Plovdiv depot.

While moving from Plovdiv to Dimitrovgrad station, several indications of the same damage occurred in the locomotive.

At 05:37 АМ on 10.12.2016 freight train no. 90570 of Bulmarket Rail Cargo Ltd. with 26 wagons-tanks (20 loaded with propylene, 3 with propane-butane and 3 empty), locomotive 87025 and supporting locomotive 86003 in front, with a total mass of 1756 tonnes, derailed with 12 of the wagons (from 6-the to the 17-th) while entering track no 3 at switch no 5 in Hitrino station where it was to meet with passenger train no 90201.

On 09/02/2017, a tank-wagon loaded with propane-butane (LPG) of the freight train № 30582 in composition of 24 wagons (1532 tons) serviced by two electrical locomotives of Bulgarian Railway Company AD, derailed with the first bogie on railway line no 3 between Dalgopol and Komunari stations.

Highball 4681 composed of locomotive 44-141 and 3 carriages with a total mass of 123 tons, engaged Mihailovo – Svoboda railway section from 12:05 to 12:55 hours LT, due to a fire occured in the locomotive engine while running.

While moving in Burgas – Karnobat direction on 14.09.2016, PT No 80290 (composed of EL No 44096 and two passenger wagons) got fire in its electrical locomotive in the Chernograd – Karnobat rail intersection. Immediately after smelling a smoke of the fire at approx. 15:00 LT, the locomotive crew stopped the train, called emergency and started fighting the fire with the fire extinguishers available.

At approx. 12:16 PM local time on 16.06.2016, while controlling the transit pass of fast train No 3622 through Dunavtsi station in Burgas – Sofia direction, the Traffic Manager on duty observed a smoke coming out from beneath the locomotive.

At approx. 11:07 PM on 13.04.2016 and while hauling regional train 8626 between the stations Aytos and Chernograd in Burgas – Sofia direction, electrical locomotive 44081.8 got fire in its engine compartment. The crew stopped the train, called the emergency and started fighting the fire. The fire was extinguished after 3,5 hrs. by the fire brigade.

Freight train № 50601 of 'BDZ - Freight Services' Ltd., loaded with cement, derailed shortly after midnight on 23.01.2016 while entering on fourth track in 'Dupnitsa' station. Nine loaded with cement wagons derailed. Severe damages were caused to the rolling stock and to the rail infrastructure, including overhead lines and signalling.

Around 9:00 a. m. on 13.10.2015, the locomotive crew of fast train No. 1621 noticed a smoke in the engine compartment of the locomotive while moving along track No. 1 from Sofia to Plovdiv in the section between Elin Pelin and Vakarel stations. The crew members took immediate action to put down the smoke and managed to extinguish the raising fire with the locomotive fire extinguishing installation and the portable fire-extinguishers available.