Bucharest

[CC 72100]

Hi all,

I'm off to Bucharest in September for a few days. The general rail landscape over there looks pretty interesting (not the main purpose of the trip) and so I guess it would be rude not to. So could anyone with local knowledge or recent experience advise on the following...

- How much loco hauled is there out of Bucuresti Nord, especially diesel (if any)?

- Is there a particularly good local ticket that may cover some of the suburban trains which are loco-hauled?

- I'll have a FIP coupon for Romania - which trains require reservations/supplements, and if so, how easy are they to do?

- Regiotrans have some ex-SNCF RIB/RIO stock and electric locos. Are these still in use and on what services?

Thanks in advance - all help appreciated!

 

[Tomfleet]

If you want some diesel hauled actions out of Bucharest, Targoviste is a good little jaunt, about 2 hours there and 2 hours back. (Pics below)

Regional trains don't require a reservation but for Intet regional trains you will need one, the majority of staff can do you a reservation and it's pretty easy, my advice would write down on Google translate what you need as they don't always speak English

 

[dutchflyer]

@2-ride-at-will; NOne.
RATB=Bucuresti city transport has a dayticket-must be loaded on an also newtobuy kind of chipcard, this is only metro/tram/bus.
@3. Note first that FIP is only for the historic state-owned CFR-and there are many competitors (also on the airport line) who are ´private´ and will only accept their very own tickets. ALL faster/longer distance trains need to be reserved-tickets bought without specification will be assumed to be for next train out and this will also always cost a few RON=lei. This is a time-honored system that was in force since at least the 70ies. Purely local trains (marked as R = regionale) are without reserv. but are rare in Bucuresti-Nord (=main station) as such (there are more from outer suburban stations-where they end/turn around)
Some/most of these ´privates´ have 2nd hand stock from western -Europe, not just french.
Another specialty is the overnight train from Chisinau/Moldova, Russian-type sleeper cars.

 

[Richard Scott]

Hi all,

I'm off to Bucharest in September for a few days. The general rail landscape over there looks pretty interesting (not the main purpose of the trip) and so I guess it would be rude not to. So could anyone with local knowledge or recent experience advise on the following...

- How much loco hauled is there out of Bucuresti Nord, especially diesel (if any)?

- Is there a particularly good local ticket that may cover some of the suburban trains which are loco-hauled?

- I'll have a FIP coupon for Romania - which trains require reservations/supplements, and if so, how easy are they to do?

- Regiotrans have some ex-SNCF RIB/RIO stock and electric locos. Are these still in use and on what services?

Thanks in advance - all help appreciated!

There are quite a few diesel loco hauled trains in/out of Bucharest particularly in morning/evening. In September likely to all be GM repowered 64/66s, which were originally Sulzer powered 60s. If you want some info on which trains are diesel hauled I can send you some moves that I did in April but I'm not back off holiday until beginning of September if that's ok?
The ex SNCF stock was still working in April but new units were creeping in. They work to Brasov and back.
Even trains that do require supplements often guards aren't fussed but you may end up standing as trains can be busy. Reservations are very cheap so if travelling any distance worth getting one.

 

[CC 72100]

Thanks for the responses so far, much appreciated.

@Richard Scott I will take you up on that offer if it's not too much hard work for yourself to collate. I don't fly out until the 10th so I've got time.

Regiotrans seem to have quite a French fleet, what with their ex-TER DMUs too, still in TER grey/blue it appears.

 

[Richard Scott]

Thanks for the responses so far, much appreciated.

@Richard Scott I will take you up on that offer if it's not too much hard work for yourself to collate. I don't fly out until the 10th so I've got time.

Regiotrans seem to have quite a French fleet, what with their ex-TER DMUs too, still in TER grey/blue it appears.

No problem, if I've not messaged you by 4/5th September please feel free to send me a reminder.

 

[MarcVD]

As far as I know, the international train to Turkey is still diverted via Videle and thus diesel-hauled till Ruse, right after the Bulgarian border and the Danube River Bridge.