Romania - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 13 December 2020 to 11 December 2021, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. Template:Map Refs ERA-R-RO-BG-MD
Obscure services
Teiuş avoiding line: Mihalţ – Coşlariu
[200A,300] (ERA-E 108A2; ERA-R 239C4) RO21/1
This east <=> west curve avoiding Teiuş is used by through trains shown on Table 200A with no timing at Teiuş.
Săcueni Bihor avoiding line: Târguşor Bihor (Ram. Diosig) – Cadia (Ram. Târguşor Bihor)
[402,413] (ERA-E 107C4; ERA-R 234A2) RO21/2
CFR took over this line from 14 January 2019. Trains in the current timetable run Săcueni Bihor <=> Sărmășag, so there is no use of the curve which was used by trains from Oradea to Sărmășag to avoid reversal at Săcueni Bihor.
Mărăşeşti avoiding line: Putna Seacă (Mărăşeşti Ram. Putna) – Gral. Eremia Grigorescu (Mărăşeşti Ram. Gral. Eremia Grigorescu)
[500,704] (ERA-E 109A2; ERA-R 241B4) RO21/4
This south to east curve is used by through trains between Bucureşti and the Tecuci line, shown on table 500 with destination Iaşi but no time at Mărăşeşti, and on table 704 with destination Bucureşti but no time at Mărăşeşti.
1667 | Bucureşti Nord - 01:56 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1661 | Bucureşti Nord - 09:07 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1663 | Bucureşti Nord - 15:09 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1665 | Bucureşti Nord - 19:20 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1668 | Iaşi – 02:23 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord | ||
1660 | Iaşi – 09:16 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord | ||
1668 | Iaşi – 19:12 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord |
Paşcani avoiding line: Paşcani triaj – Ruginoasa
[500,606] (ERA-E 109A4; ERA-R 236B2) RO21/5
This south to east curve linking the Buzău and Iaşi lines is used by through trains shown in Table 606 with no timings at Paşcani and in Table 500 with a vertical line or timing at Paşcani traj and a blank at Paşcani.
1853 | Bucureşti Nord - 00:35 Roman - Iaşi | ||
1540 | Brașov – 20:56 Roman - Iaşi | ||
1541 | Iaşi - 06:11 Târgu Frumos - Brașov | ||
1854 | Iaşi - 23:51 Târgu Frumos - Bucureşti Nord |
(Suceava –) Cacica – Gura Humorului
[502, 513] (ERA-E 108C4; ERA-R 235C3) RO21/6
Table 513 Suceava - Dărmăneşti - Cacica - Paltinoasa (- Gura Humorului) forms an alternative route to line 502 between Suceava and Gura Humorului. There are no trains in the current timetable.
Tecuci avoiding line: Cosmeşti – Tecuci Nord
[600,704] (ERA-E 109A2-B2; ERA-R 241C4) RO21/7
This west to north curve avoiding Tecuci station is used by trains between Mărăşeşti and Bârlad with no time shown at Tecuci.
1662 | Iaşi - 16:55 Tecuci Nord hc. – București Nord | ||
16068 | Iaşi - 18:07 Tecuci Nord hc. - Ploiești Vest | ||
16067 | Ploiești Vest - 11:39 Mărăşeşti - Iaşi |
Pantelimon – Bucureşti Obor
[800] (ERA-E 111A5; ERA-R 246C4) RO21/8
Express services on the Constanţa line run to/from Bucureşti Nord whereas local services run to/from Bucureşti Obor, which lies at the end of a branch running SW from a triangular junction at Pantelimon. A few local trains run between Bucureşti Nord and Bucureşti Obor but they reverse at Pantelimon station (which lies at the east end of the triangle) and hence do not traverse the W <=> S curve.
Bucureşti Nord – Pajura Hm. (700) – Chitila
[700] (ERA-E 110C5-111A5; ERA-R 246B4) RO21/9
This line runs mostly parallel to and to the east of the fast lines. North of Pajura this line diverges away from the fast lines on a separate formation before rejoining them to enter Chitila station.
Click on the thumbnail to view the map
It is used by trains, usually from the east side platforms at Bucureşti Nord, bound for Urziceni and calling at all stations before Chitila. The working timetable for 2017-18 showed that seasonal trains from Mangalia calling at Ploiești Vest and vice versa (see RO21/10) used part of this line, which is presumably bi-directional. It is assumed a similar situation applies for 2020-2021
Bucureşti Baneasa - Ram. Pajura - Pajura Hm. (700) – Chitila)
[300/800/900] (ERA-E 110C5-111A5; ERA-R 246B4) RO21/10
This route avoiding Bucureşti Gara de Nord is used by seasonal services between the Brașov line and the Black Sea coast, calling at Bucureşti Baneasa instead of Bucureşti Nord. Part of the route is common with RO21/9.
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D | 1944 | Satu Mare – 03:53 Ploiești Vest - Mangalia | |
D | 1932 | 0radea – 04:24 Ploiești Vest – Mangalia | |
D | 16088 | Brașov – 09:21 Ploiești Vest – Constanta | |
D | 16089 | Mangalia – 18:18 Bucureşti Baneasa - Brașov | |
D | 1945 | Mangalia - 19:28 Bucureşti Baneasa – Satu Mare | |
D | 1931 | Mangalia – 20:30 Bucureşti Baneasa – Oradea |
Bucureşti Baneasa – Ram Pajura – Buc. Triaj Post 17 – Bucureşti Noi Gr.C. – Chiajna
[800/900] (ERA-E 111A5; ERA-R 246B4) RO21/11
This route avoiding Bucureşti Gara de Nord is used by seasonal services between the Videle line and the Black Sea coast, calling at Bucureşti Baneasa instead of Bucureşti Nord.
Click on the thumbnail to view the map
D | IR1992 | Timișoara Nord – 03:03 Videle - Mangalia | |
D | IR1991 | Mangalia – 00:22 Bucureşti Baneasa - Timișoara Nord |
Ronat Triaj: Timișoara Nord – Ronat triaj Cab 1 h – Ronat Triaj Gr.D – Sânandrei Hm.
[310] (ERA-E 107B2; ERA-R 238B3) RO21/12
Ronat Triaj is the large yard north of Timișoara on the line to Arad. Trains may be routed through the yard when engineering work closes the main line or for the benefit of railway workers. Information is not yet available for 2020-2021, so the 2019-2020 information is given below. The Timișoara - Arad line is to be rebuilt so diversions through Ronat yard may be expected.
2611 | 19:50 Timișoara Nord - Curtici | ||
Note 1 | 12531 | Cluj Napoca – 12:52 Arad - Timișoara Nord |
Note 1: This train runs instead of train 1531 when engineering works close the main line past the yard.
Palas – Post Medeea – Constanta P2 – Constanţa
[800] (ERA-E 111C5; ERA-R 246A5) RO21/13
This line diverges at Palas and allows access to either the southern end of Constanţa station or directly onto the Mangalia line, the latter curve not being used by any passenger trains. Although there would appear to be no reason why any train should not use this route, in practice only some summer only through trains between Bucuresţi (or beyond) and Mangalia seem to use it. Usage may be dependent on timekeeping. Map view shows the following trains routed this way in 2020-2021.
D | 1923 | Sibiu – 05:38 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
D | 1992 | Timișoara Nord – 06:06 Medgidia – Mangalia | |
D | 1932 | Oradea - 07:24 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
D | 1922 | Arad – 08:33 Medgidia – Mangalia |
Railway Map of Constanţa area:
Făurei avoiding line: Gâiseanca Hc – Cireşu Hm
[700,702] (ERA-E 109A1-B1; ERA-R 241B2) RO21/14
This southeast to northeast curve connects the Făurei to Galati and Făurei to Feteşti lines.
D | 1971 | Constanţa – 20:01 Tandarei - Galați | |
D | R1970 | Galați - 06:40 Ianca hc. - Constanţa |
Lunca Budieni to Copăcioasa "double track" section
[202] (ERA-E 108A1; ERA-R 239C2) RO21/15
Although shown on CFR schematics as double track, the section between Lunca Budieni and Copăcioasa is actually two single lines, each over 5km long and up to 1200 metres apart. Budieni halt is located on the more southerly line. Trains calling at Budieni take the southern route and all fast services between Târgu Jiu and Filiaşi and v.v. (not calling at Budieni) take the northern route.
Brașov Triaj: Brașov – Brașov Triaj - Hărman
[400] (ERA-E 108C2; ERA-R 240C3) RO21/16
Brașov Triaj is a large yard east of Brașov on a loop off the Brașov - Sfântu Gheorghe line. Local trains call at Pav. CFR Brașov Triaj h., which is on the main line, but if this stop is omitted it may mean that the train is diverted through the Triaj, which is up to 1.4km away from the main line. Local engineering notices or screens showing the train numbers below are probably the best guide to use. 2019-2020 information was as follows.
Note 1 | 13503 | 12:50 Brașov - Gheorgheni | |
Note 2 | 13500 | Sfântu Gheorghe – 11:30 Hărman - Brașov |
Note 1: This train runs instead of train 4509 when engineering works close the main line past the yard.
Note 2: This train runs instead of train 4582 when engineering works close the main line past the yard.
Sibiu Triaj: – Mohu - Sibiu Gr. Șelimbăr Hm. - Atelier Zona h. - Sibiu
(ERA-E 108B2; ERA-R 240A3) RO21/17
Line 200 is double track as it approaches Sibiu from Podu Olt, but a connection allows all trains to take the southernmost track from Sibiu Gr. Șelimbăr Hm. to Atelier Zona h., and this bypasses Sibiu Triaj. However, to avoid conflicts on this single line section, there is an alternative route through Sibiu Triaj used by the following services in 2019-2020. Information for 2020-2021 is awaited.
D1 | SSuX | 2481 | Câineni 06:17 Podu Olt -Sibiu |
D | 1923 | Mangalia – 07:03 Podu Olt – Sibiu | |
Note 1 | 13501 | Brașov – 09:09 Podu Olt – Sibiu | |
1623 | București Nord – 15:14 Podu Olt – Sibiu | ||
SSuX | 1721 | Craiova – 19:50 Podu Olt – Sibiu | |
Note 2 | 12720 | 05:40 Sibiu – Craiova | |
D | 1924 | 18:28 Sibiu – Mangalia |
D1 Does not run S and Su and 13/06/2020 to 06/09/2020
Note 1 Runs instead of Train 2101 in the event of engineering work on the main line by the yard.
Note 1 Runs instead of Train 1720 in the event of engineering work on the main line by the yard.
Suceava avoiding line: Suceava Nord to Suceava Vest
(ERA-E 108C4; ERA-R 236A3) RO21/18
This curve allows trains from the Dărmănești line to proceed directly to the Gura Humorului line without calling at Suceava main station. From February 2020 it saw use during the Covid 19 crisis for a two train pair service Cacica <=> Câmpulung Moldovenesc, but this ended at some point in 2020 and there are no trains in the 2020-2021 timetable.
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday.
A1.1 | Golenţi - Vidin Patnichesca (Bulgaria) | |
A3 | Salonta - Kotegyan (Hungary) | |
B | Domeşti - Vicşani - Vadu Siret (Ukraine) | |
D/903 | Giurgiu Nord - Ruse (Bulgaria) | |
E | Carei – Mateszalka (Hungary) | |
216 | Sânnicolau Mare - Vălcani | |
218 | Sânnicolau Mare - Cenad | |
302 | Ploiești Vest - Târgoviște | |
307 | Bălăuşeri hcv. - Praid | |
413 | Săcuieni Bihor - Marghita | |
509 | Piatra Neamt - Bicaz | |
700 | Urziceni - Făurei | |
804 | Medgidia - Tulcea Oraş | |
905 | Golești - Cămpulung - Parcul Kretulescu h. | |
912 | Golenţi - Calafat | |
925 | Oravița - Anina | Only one train pair. Other trains run for group bookings. |
Deletions since last edition
RO20/1 | Arad avoiding line: Glogovăţ – Aradu Nou | No service since 2017 |