Tesnolineikata
In the valleys of the Rhodope Mountains, southern Bulgaria, lies the highest railway of the Balkans: it is the narrow gauge line from Dobrinisthe to Septemvri. On this scenic track built in early ‘900, the train takes 5 hours to travel 120 kilometres, through forests, canyons and pristine valleys.
Although tourism is rapidly growing on the line due to its scenic value, the main role of the Rhodope train is meeting the transport needs of local communities. In the most remote areas along the route, asphalt roads still do not exist, and the “Tesnolineika”, as locals call it, is an irreplaceable means of transport for many settlements. In the village of Tsvetino, for instance, some 20 women take the train every day to bring milk from their cows to the nearest town - Velingrad. For their entire lives, they have been delivering it to their customers homes by train, carrying it on their backs - 25 to 35 kg per day. Without that service, they would not be able to have their small income. Same story for other valley dwellers depending on the railway to go to work in Bansko, a famous ski resort near the western terminus.
Although the roads on this section are paved, many cannot afford a car to reach their job from their villages, and without that train they would have been forced to quit. For years, the Bulgarian railways BDZ have threatened to stop the service due economic reasons, but locals have always managed to keep the focus on the importance of the line. And thanks to the discovery of this spectacular line by tourists, it is now one of the few Bulgarian railways in the positive in terms of passenger traffic and ticket selling.
On board the small carriages, groups of hikers and tourists sit shoulder to shoulder with the shepherdesses of Tsvetino and their milk.
