Romania - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 11 December 2022 to 9 December 2023, 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. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova) by M.G. Ball.
Obscure services
Teiuş avoiding line: Mihalţ – Coşlariu
[200A,300] (ERA-E 108A2; ERA-R 239C4) RO23/1
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) RO23/2
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. There appears to be no use of the curve in 2022-23.
Mărăşeşti avoiding line: Putna Seacă (Mărăşeşti Ram. Putna) – Gral. Eremia Grigorescu (Mărăşeşti Ram. Gral. Eremia Grigorescu)
[500,704] (ERA-E 109A2; ERA-R 241B4) RO23/4
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 | ||
| Note A | 1661 | Bucureşti Nord - 09:12 Focşani - Iaşi | |
| 1663 | Bucureşti Nord - 14:47 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
| 1668 | Iaşi – 01:28 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord | ||
| Note A | 1660 | Iaşi – 08:59 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord | |
| 1662 | Iaşi – 17:01 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord |
Note A: Not 16 April and 4 June 2023
Paşcani avoiding line: Paşcani triaj – Ruginoasa
[500,606] (ERA-E 109A4; ERA-R 236B2) RO23/5
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 triaj and a blank at Paşcani.
| 402 | Bucureşti Nord - 00:35 Roman - Iaşi/Chișinău | ||
| 1543 | Brașov – 17:58 Roman - Iaşi | ||
| 401 | Chișinău/Iaşi - 00:10 Târgu Frumos - Bucureşti Nord | ||
| 1541 | Iaşi - 07:15 Târgu Frumos - Brașov |
(Suceava –) Cacica – Gura Humorului
[502, 513] (ERA-E 108C4; ERA-R 235C3) RO23/6
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) RO23/7
This west to north curve avoiding Tecuci station is used by trains between Mărăşeşti and Bârlad with no time shown at Tecuci.
| Note A | 1664 | Iaşi - 18:41 Tecuci Nord hc. – București Nord | |
| Note A | 1665 | București Nord - 19:35 Mărășești - Iaşi |
Note A: Not 16 April and 4 June 2023
Pantelimon – Bucureşti Obor
[800] (ERA-E 111A5; ERA-R 246C4) RO23/8
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) RO23/9
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.
The compilers would welcome information on trains using this line.
Click on the thumbnail to view the map
Bucureşti Baneasa - Ram. Pajura - Pajura Hm. (700) – Chitila)
[300/800/900] (ERA-E 110C5-111A5; ERA-R 246B4) RO23/10
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.
Summer 2023 timetables are not yet available to the compiler. The trains below are for 2021 as a guide
| 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) RO23/11
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.
Timings for the summer 2023 timetable are not yet available.
Click on the thumbnail to view the map
Ronat Triaj: Timișoara Nord – Ronat triaj Cab 1 h – Ronat Triaj Gr.D – Sânandrei Hm.
[310] (ERA-E 107B2; ERA-R 238B3) RO23/12
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. There was one train in the 2020-2021 timetable, details below, and periods of operation are probably most easily identified by local notices.
| Note 1 | 12531 | Cluj Napoca – 12:45 Arad - Timișoara Nord |
Note 1: This train ran instead of train 1531/1531-2 when engineering works closed the main line past the yard.
Palas – Post Medeea – Constanta P2 – Constanţa
[800] (ERA-E 111C5; ERA-R 246A5) RO23/13
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.
The draft timetable for 2022-23 shows the following trains using the obscure route, comparable to previous years.
| Note 1 | 1912 | Sibiu – 05:38 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
| Note 2 | 1941 | Satu Mare - 06:13 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
| Note 1 | 1992 | Timișoara Nord – 06:36 Medgidia – Mangalia | |
| Note 2 | 1932 | Oradea - 07:13 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
| Note 2 | 1922 | Arad – 08:14 Medgidia – Mangalia |
Note 1: 16/17 June 2023 to 09/10 September 2023
Note 2: 27/28 April to 30 April/01 May 2023 and 16/17 June 2023 to 09/10 September 2023
Railway Map of Constanţa area:
Făurei avoiding line: Gâiseanca Hc – Cireşu Hm
[700,702] (ERA-E 109A1-B1; ERA-R 241B2) RO23/14
This southeast to northeast curve connects the Făurei to Galati and Făurei to Feteşti lines and is used by a seasonal train pair.
Summer 2023 timings not yet loaded. The trains below are for 2021 as a guide
| 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) RO23/15
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. Note however that in the event of late running meaning local trains would have to cross on the southern line one will be diverted via the northern line with (presumably) a call at the former northern platform at Lunca Budieni. This was observed in 2022.
Brașov Triaj: Brașov – Brașov Triaj - Hărman
[400] (ERA-E 108C2; ERA-R 240C3) RO23/16
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.
Information for 2022-2023 is not yet available. The train below is for 2021 as a guide
| Note 1 | 13503 | 12:43 Brașov - Gheorgheni | |
| Note 2 | 13500 | Sfântu Gheorghe – 11:28 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) RO23/17
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 h. However, to avoid conflicts on this single line section, there is an alternative route through Sibiu Triaj used by the following services in 2020-2021.
Information for 2022-2023 is not yet available. The trains below are for 2021 as a guide
| D1 | SSuX | 2481 | Câineni 06:32 Podu Olt -Sibiu |
| SSuX | 2515 | Făgăraș – 06:38 Podu Olt – Sibiu | |
| D | 1923 | Mangalia - 07:07 Podu Olt - Sibiu | |
| Note 1 | 13501 | Brașov – 09:09 Podu Olt – Sibiu | |
| D | 1623 | București Nord – 15:13 Podu Olt – Sibiu |
D1 Does not run 19/06/2021 to 12/09/2021
Note 1 Runs instead of Train 2101 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) RO23/18
This curve allows trains from the Dărmănești line to proceed directly to the Gura Humorului line without calling at Suceava main station.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.
From February 2020 it saw use during the start of the Covid pandemic for a two train pair service Cacica <=> Câmpulung Moldovenesc, but this ended at some point in 2020. A new train pair using the curve was introduced from the start of the 2021-22 timetable, but there appear to be no services in the 2022-23 timetable..
Pitești avoiding line: Bradu de Sus - Golești
(ERA-E 108C1; ERA-R 240B1) RO23/19
This curve allows trains from the Piatra Olt line to proceed directly towards București without a reversal at Pitești. It may also be used when either of the two passenger curves into Pitești are blocked for engineering works. It was in use for the week commencing 14 March 2022 by trains from Piatra Olt, which reversed at Golesti to reach Pitești.
There is no known use in the 2022-23 timetable period
Simeria: Eastern loop line
(ERA-E 108A2 Not shown; ERA-R 239B3/4) RO23/20
This approximately 4km-long freight loop line east of Simeria provides an alternative route between Simeria and Simeria Triaj.
Due to building works in Simeria station and removal of part of the direct curve to Simeria Triaj, all trains Simeria <=> Simeria Triaj must run by the eastern loop line taking 12 minutes rather than the usual 6-7 minutes. This diversion continues in the 2022-23 timetable period. Check for the extended journey time to see if the diversion is still in operation.
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 | Dorneşti - Vicşani - Vadu Siret (Ukraine) | The service was withdrawn in 2020 due to COVID-19 and has not as yet been reinstated |
| D/903 | Giurgiu Nord - Ruse (Bulgaria) | |
| E | Carei – Mateszalka (Hungary) | |
| Valea Viseului - Rakhiv (Ukraine) | From 17 January 2023 | |
| 213 | Giarmata - Remetea Mica | |
| 216 | Sânnicolau Mare - Vălcani | |
| 218 | Sânnicolau Mare - Cenad | |
| 302 | Ploiești Vest - Târgoviște | |
| 413 | Săcuieni Bihor - Marghita | |
| 509 | Piatra Neamt - Bicaz | |
| 700 | Urziceni - Făurei | |
| 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
| 218 | Sânnicolau Mare - Cenad | No longer a sparse service |
| 307 | Bălăuşeri hcv. - Praid | No service |
| 804 | Medgidia - Tulcea Oraş | No longer a sparse service |
