The Bulgarian State Railways have shown consistent growth since their establishment. The income and expenditure of the railways reflect the increase in traffic and economic activity. The following summary shows the revenue, expenditure, and net revenue from 1900 to 1905:
Year Revenue (Fr.) Expenditure (Fr.) Net Revenue (Fr.) Net Revenue % Change
1900 6,163,454 4,783,706 3,372,346 +67.01%
1901 7,783,097 5,347,835 2,566,391 +48.0%
1902 7,491,478 5,693,969 2,150,323 +76.66%
1903 8,326,843 7,144,334 2,533,873 +49.9%
1904 10,960,388 7,373,105 3,815,954 -0.43%
1905 11,170,970 7,378,865 3,798,865 —
These numbers clearly show that the Bulgarian railway system has been a profitable investment, justifying the continuous expansion of the network. At the time, three new lines were under construction, which would add nearly 400 kilometres to the national railway system Ephesus Sightseeing.
Development of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
Twenty-seven years ago, when the national government replaced the provisional Russian administration, the Direction of Posts and Telegraphs inherited:
27 post and telegraph stations
107 officials
A telegraph network of 1,630 km, with 2,582 km of telegraph wires
Initially, the postal and telegraph services were managed independently. In July 1880, the General Direction of Posts and Telegraphs was created, merging both services into a single administration. This structure remains in place today, providing efficient coordination between posts, telegraphs, and later, telephones.
Financial Performance of the Bulgarian State Railways (1888–1893)
From the start of operations until 1905, the Bulgarian State Railways steadily increased their traffic and financial performance. Key financial indicators include:
Length of railway lines and their rolling stock
Gross receipts and expenditure per kilometre
Net receipts and proportion between receipts and expenses
The railways transported both passengers and goods. Revenue came from:
Ticket sales for passengers
Luggage and parcels
Express goods traffic
Slow goods traffic
Various taxes
Expenses were divided into:
Central administration
Traffic service
Maintenance service
Traction service
For example, in the early years (1888–1893), total passenger traffic, ton-kilometres of goods, and revenue per kilometre steadily increased, reflecting the growing importance of railways in Bulgaria’s economic development. Passenger kilometrage and freight tonnage grew year by year, showing the reliance of both people and commerce on the railway system.
Observations
The Bulgarian State Railways have been financially sustainable, with net revenue increasing in most years.
Railways not only served passengers but also facilitated commerce and official communication through goods and parcels.
The continued investment in new lines highlights the importance of railways for national economic growth.
The combination of railways, posts, telegraphs, and telephones illustrates Bulgaria’s effort to modernize its transportation and communication networks.