There are no trains between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. These countries have no direct railway connection. In the past, there were direct carriages from Skopje to Sofia via Nis (an overnight train). Passengers can also travel from Skopje to Sofia with transfer in Thessaloniki.
Construction of the new railway line from Kriva Palanka to Deve Bair is underway as a part of the future European Transport Corridor VIII. Both governments announced, that completion of the line is expected by 2030 but in my opinion the line was put in operation in 2040 or later. The existing 31 km long railway line from Kumanovo to Beljakovce will be rehabilitated, a new 34km section will be built from Beljakovce to Kriva Palanka.
The projects include the construction of a single-track electrified line with 14 stations and 12 bridges and contracts for works on these two sections.
There is a planned further 23.5km section of railway linking Kriva Palanka to the Bulgarian border. The railway line on the Bulgarian side needs rehabilitation – tracks are in a deplorable state. Regional trains to Gyueshevo travel at a speed of 20 km per hour.
European Corridor VIII will connect the Albanian Adriatic port of Durres and the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Varna via North Macedonia.
Trains between North Macedonia and Bulgaria – history
The first plans to build a railway line connecting Bulgaria and North Macedonia appeared at the beginning of the 70s of the 18th century. In 1873 the Ottoman Empire began the construction of the railway Belovo – Sofia – Kyustendil – Skopje as the part of the Vienna – Istanbul railway corridor. Following year work was suspended due to a lack of funds. The plan of the construction of the railway line eventually failed due to the Great Eastern Crisis of 1875–1878, uprisings and war between Ottoman Empire and Russia.
In 1878 the Treaty of San Stefano ended the war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire and proclaimed Bulgaria’s independence. The Bulgarian government insisted on the construction of the railway line Vienna – Istanbul via Kyustendil and Skopje, but Austria-Hungary and Serbia decided to build railway line connecting Vienna and Istanbul via Nis and Plovdiv, bypassing territory of the present-day North Macedonia.
Further proposals of the railway line from Skopje to Istanbul were not accepted by Sultan.
In 1910 the railway reached Gyueshevo – the border village in Bulgaria.
In April 1941 Bulgaria entered Vardar Macedonia. The government decided to build new railway connecting Bulgaria with its new lands. Work quickly started. Near Gyueshevo 2,500 m long watershed tunnel was construted. In September 1944 Bulgaria left Vardar Macedonia, construction in this area largely ended. Work was carried out in the Gueshevo area until 1948-49, along the watershed tunnel, because at that time the relations between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia were very well.
The communist regime resigned from plans for the construction of the railway line. In the newly established People’s Republic of Macedonia within Yugoslavia the section from Kumanovo to Belyakovtsi was completed. It is about 30 km of railway track and this section has been put into operation.
In the 90s, the construction of the Belyakovtsi-Kriva palanka section was started but was stopped after about 10 years.
Related articles:
Train travel in Bulgaria – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in North Macedonia – a comprehensive guide
