Линията Солун–Битоля – част от железопътното съперничество на Балканите в началото на XX век
The Thessaloniki–Bitola Line – a Part of the Railway Conflict on the Balkans at the Beginning of the 20th C

Summary/Abstract: The article analyzes the complex relationships concerning the railway transport in West Thrace and Macedonia after the Balkan wars between the Balkan countries, the Great Powers and the private companies – concessionaries of the lines, while concentrating on the conflict of different interests on the Thessaloniki-Bitola intercept. This subject has not been analyzed until now, neither in the Bulgarian history, nor in the other Balkan countries. The importance of this subject is determined by the influence of the railway transport and its condition on the economic development of the region at the beginning of the 20th century. In regard to the changes of the railway transport development in West Thrace and Macedonia after the beginning of the Balkan wars, as well as after the beginning of the First World War, the author follows the destiny of the Thessaloniki-Bitola intercept and its division between Serbia and Greece. He also describes how the two countries try to incorporate this line into their own railways system by building connecting lines. The movements of the Central powers and the Triple Entente concerning the building of a system of narrow-gauge lines for war transport around the lines in Macedonia is also shown, which contributes for a more integrated railway system in the region. The problems concerning the return of the Thessaloniki-Bitola intercept to the Balkan countries after the war are analyzed and also the building of new railway lines is described, which makes possible the connecting of the different lines into one common railway system.

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