Trainspotting - Posmatranje dolaska voza

Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the world's iconic train journeys

Hello and welcome to this edition of our Blog, from Čardačani, in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina, written by an immigrant (me), as I am neither a tourist or a citizen here.

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Well, the weather is turning mainly for the better, and what a relief. What is it with sunshine and blue skies that lifts the spirits in a heartbeat? Everything seems to immediately change for the better (apart from Tamara suffering with a pollen allergy).

I have been looking at the content we have published over the past few weeks. We conducted a small experiment using video as the main storytelling element. Those “video led” posts seemed to get a lesser opening and read rate than the standard text heavy posts.

To that end, we will be using standard text posts as our weekly Friday updates from here on in. Standard posts will always be free to read, please be assured of that.

Video posts or Podcasts will be posted on Tuesdays and maybe behind a paywall for paid subscribers. What do you think of this idea? Please let us know.

If you are considering visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina we would love to host you and show you around. We can arrange bespoke trips and also offer you a super place to base yourself, in our apartment upstairs.

OK.

Onto this weeks post.

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You can travel by Train in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Banja Luka Main railway station

A not very well known fact is that there is a railway network in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A coal train on the “DownLine” crossing at Trn between Banja Luka and Laktaši.

Where we live, Republika Srpska Railways (Željeznice Republike Srpske / Жељезнице Републике Српске) is the railway company that operates 424 kilometres (263 mi) of track.

It is one of the two rail companies in the country (the other is the ŽFBH, operating in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The network is not all that efficient to be honest, but Bosnia and Herzegovina does have one of the top iconic train journeys in the world, that runs between Sarajevo and Mostar.

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The Iconic Sarajevo-Mostar Train Journey

The train journey from Sarajevo to Mostar takes around 2 hours. The train meanders between mountains, popping in tunnels, traversing viaducts, and passing a series of small towns, farmhouses, and crops.

The best countryside idylls and mountain sceneries fall between Sarajevo and Konjic, a small town on the banks of Neretva River.

The most beautiful views from the trains windows, are between Konjic and Mostar. About 10 minutes after departing Konjic, the turquoise Neretva river on the left side, with its craggy peaks, the rails traverse to the mouth of the beautiful Jablanica Lake (Jablanicko jezero) and follow the lake for its whole length until it narrows again.

The journey entertains your eyes on the left side all the way to Mostar.

The cost of the trip (one way) at time of publishing this post, is 12 BAM (€ 6). The carriages are super modern, with buffet service and wifi on board.

2nd class seats on the Sarajevo to Mostar Talgo train

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There are still Steam Locomotives being used in Bosnia and Herzegovina

CLICK on the image to watch Steam Locomotives in action

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Illegal TrainHopping across Bosnia and Herzegovina

This is mental (but also extremely interesting)

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Food Statistics

Savoury pies ranked, according to TasteAtlas audience.

Do you agree?

Great to see Krompirusa 🇧🇦 in the top 3!

Not so good though for my country of birth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 😞

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Tamara and I appreciate your faithful readership, your comments, and your generosity! 

THANKS SO MUCH ❤️