Greece to London - thoughts and comments sought...

[Ian99]

I'm planning to return to London from here in Patras, Greece to London next week.

I normally take the ferry to Bari, Ancona or Venice but was wondering this year about going 100% by rail. I also want to visit Zurich on the way....

Interrail pass probably makes sense but not sure how that works in Bulgaria and Hungary.

Any thoughts are welcomed!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't think Greece currently has rail connections from Thessaloniki to either Belgrade or Sofia.
The Thessaloniki-Sofia train still runs, but only domestically within Bulgaria to/from Kulata just across the GR-BG border.

Kulata - Sofia, Train timetable | BDZ Passengers

Timetable, Domestic lines. BDZ Passengers

razpisanie.bdz.bg

It has not run through from Thessaloniki since Covid arrived.

International Railway Services | Hellenic Train

All the international itineraries are suspended until further notice.

www.hellenictrain.gr

You can reach Budapest from Sofia via Vidin/Calafat I think, but you'll need a lot of time.

 

[dutchflyer]

As always: seat61.om
Besides that best current info via community.eurail.com
It is indeed not possible to do it all over rails-there is a gap of about some 25/30 KMs from what I understand from last served station in GR by Hellenictrain (N-E of Thessaloniki) till KUlata=border just in Bulgaria, from where BDZ starts-the route then goes via Romania-HUngary, logically, as it cannot be else, due to no international trains for Macedonia., Serbije.
As you likely know an INterRail is valid in all those countries (other as many Brits now seem to think, it really has nothing to do with EU, as even GB itself remains in the system). In fact if taking a slower tempo, only very few extra REServations need to be made-except for the last leg on EuroStar. But it will help to speed it up a bit or give you more comfort in overnight sectors in a couchette/sleeper. In BG most is optional, in HU one needs to RES seats in the IC-trains and in internat. trains to/fro Romania-also all long distance in RO must be done. At the counter.
The basic 4-daypass should cover it all with some smart planning-or perhaps paying extra for a short leg in cheap countries-all depending on your wish about what to see on the way

 

[duesselmartin]

how would you get away from Patras? I assume the line to Athens is not finished?

 

[Watershed]

how would you get away from Patras? I assume the line to Athens is not finished?

The line is still some way off being finished. It's currently a rail replacement coach service to Kiato and then an electric unit from there into Athens.

The new line is open (unelectrified) as far west as Aigio, but there aren't any rail replacement services bridging the gap between there and Patras - although I suppose you could get a taxi or (if you trust what Google Maps says!) there are coaches to the bus station every few hours. However it's worth noting that the train station is quite a distance from the bus station.

I'm planning to return to London from here in Patras, Greece to London next week.

I normally take the ferry to Bari, Ancona or Venice but was wondering this year about going 100% by rail. I also want to visit Zurich on the way....

Interrail pass probably makes sense but not sure how that works in Bulgaria and Hungary.

Any thoughts are welcomed!

I did exactly this journey last year (having taken the ferry from Bari) - see my threads here and here. Unfortunately, there are currently no international rail services to/from Greece - they were withdrawn at the start of Covid and haven't been reintroduced. And as above, Patras doesn't have a rail connection to the rest of Greece (the local narrow gauge network is isolated).

The closest you can do to making the entire journey by rail is Kiato - Athens - Thessaloniki -Strymonas - taxi/hike (if you're very adventurous!) - Kulata (Bulgaria) - Sofia and then onwards. From Sofia, I decided to travel via Ruse, Bucharest, Budapest, Munich, Frankfurt and Brussels - but you do have a few alternative options, particularly so once you make it to Romania and then Hungary. Going via Zurich would be eminently doable.

I would warn you though - it's not by any means a quick or convenient way of making the journey - although it's certainly scenic for several sections. Despite using a sleeper (Bucharest-Budapest) and getting up at the crack of dawn on several occasions, it took me from Tuesday until Sunday to make the journey.

 

[burns20]

There used to be a Rail Replacement Bus from Strymonas to Kulata

Sofia to Vidin then Craiova for Budapest is another route option