Join The Black Sea Express tour this September for a remarkable journey through Bulgaria travelling mainly on board the Royal Train of Tsar Boris III.

Organised by heritage rail specialist The Railway Touring Company, the eleven day tour chiefly by steam train takes in historic cities, a fortress, mountains, a monastery, lakes, rivers and the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Flying from London Heathrow with British Airways on Thursday, September 8, to the capital Sofia, the journey begins with a city tour and tram ride.

On day two travellers will board the Royal Train of Tsar Boris III, which dates back to the 1930s. The train will be hauled by 'Mikado' steam locomotive No. 01.23 northwards via the spectacular Iska Gorge to Pleven from where the train will be piloted by a second steam loco No. 03.12 continuing 'double-headed' to Gorna Orjahovica. An overnight stay will provide chance to explore Bulgaria's old medieval capital Veliko Tarnovo renowned for its historic monuments, bridges, palaces and towers.

Steaming onwards the next day, the train will reach the Black Sea seaside resort of Varna noted for its white and golden sandy beaches, but also for its historic churches, museums and parks. Here the Sea Garden is a national monument of landscape architecture. Varna's Archaeological Museum exhibits items including the 'Gold of Varna', a find of 6000 year old Thracian jewellery, and the Naval Museum is also of interest.

Travelling on, The Black Sea Express visits Veliko Tarnovo on the Yantra River, famous as the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The old city is situated on three hills and the tour visits the fortress on Tsarevets. From here the Royal Train travels 'double-headed' by steam locos No. 03.12 and No. 01.23 following largely single track lines through the mountains to Stara Zagora and Haskovo.

On Wednesday September 14 we are hauled by 46.03 a 2-12-4 steam locomotive, this is the only operable one in the world, from Dimitrograd to Podkova.

On day seven the Royal Train is scheduled to steam through varied scenery, including rivers, mountains and lakes, with opportunities for keen photographers to photograph staged 'run pasts'.

Following a second night in Haskovo, the tour travels by special narrow gauge steam train across the Plain of Thrace, climbing into the Rhodope Mountains and passing through the dramatic Velingrad Gorge with its fast flowing river. Again, there will be chances to capture the beauty and drama on camera during 'run pasts' before arriving at Velingrad, high up in the mountains and known as a winter sports resort and centre for medicinal mineral water springs.

There is more drama promised during day nine with steep gradients as the steam train climbs into the Rila Mountains, through magnificent scenery, and traversing two spirals to arrive in Avramavo Kolibi, the summit of the line 1,267 metres above sea level.

The party will re-join the Royal Train, now hauled by 'Pacific' steam locomotive No. 05.01 for the final full day which will include the option to visit Bulgaria's famous Rila Monastery.

The tour finishes on Sunday, September 18, with a visit to the Sofia Locomotive Depot or free time to explore the city before the return flight to Heathrow.

“This really is a remarkable tour through a much underestimated country,” said The Railway Touring Company's MD Nigel Dobbing. “Travelling by steam train has to be the most exciting way to see Bulgaria, which offers much scenic beauty and historic interest.”

'The Black Sea Express' tour is £2595 per person, including: all flights, rail and road coach transport, transfers and sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary; ten nights in hotels with breakfasts; seven lunches (some on train, picnic lunches); nine dinners; and the services of a tour manager.

The Railway Touring Company offers a range of UK heritage rail-based tours, European tours of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Tuscany, the Czech Republic, Alsace and Slovakia, and also ventures further afield to Sri Lanka, Canada, the Andes, Peru and India.

A 'Grand Tour' exploring the stunning lakes and mountains of Switzerland on board historic trains is a new tour devised by The Railway Touring Company for 2016.

Travellers joining this nine day 'Grand Tour of Switzerland' in October will be treated to a schedule including Swiss alpine mountain railways on board mostly privately chartered steam trains and the legendary 1938 BLS 'Blue Arrow' railcar.

For a full programme of heritage rail holidays visit The Railway Touring Company's website or call for the 'Great Railway Adventures 2016' brochure.

The Railway Touring Company

Tel: 01553 661500

www.railwaytouring.net

ENDS

For further press information please contact:

The Railway Touring Company

Nigel Dobbing or Kelly Osborne, The Railway Touring Company, Tel: 01553 661500

or

Amanda Williamson, Press Officer – The Railway Touring Company, Tel: 01482 861614 amanda@habergham-williamson-pr.co.uk