Caile Ferate Romane Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Căile Ferate Române is the state railway carrier of Romania. It is the fourth largest railway network in Europe (in terms of volume of passengers and freight), with good connections internationally and to nearly every part of Romania. It was criticized in the early 1990s for poor service, but it has recently improved vastly and now provides services that are comparable to those of Western Europe. CFR has sector branches in the following Romanian cities: Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova, Iaşi; and Braşov;.
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2 CFR Development 3 Mobile Services 4 External link |
CFR operates seven types of passenger train, both on Romania's territory, with rolling stock and locomotives, or internationally, with rolling stock. Also, CFR operates international trains on Romanian territory with its own locomotives.
CFR train types are:
Personal and Cursa trains are the cheapest trains run by CFR. They usually operate on local routes, calling at every station and halt. No supplement is payable for travel by these trains, and seats are not usually reservable. Cursa trains are to be found on very few routes and, in any case, they are identical to Personal in terms of comfort and status. Personal trains have a reputation for being extremely slow, and, if not crowded, usually display a very rustic feel. The rolling stock used to form Personal trains is often old and spartan. Recently, however, many trains that were formerly of Accelerat status have been downgraded to Personal without a corresponding downgrading of quality. This has meant that there are now in effect two unofficial "classes" of Personal trains: those that travel short distances in rural areas, which remain uncomfortable and slow, and those that travel over medium distances, stopping at nearly every stop, which are more comfortable.
Accelerat trains are long-distance trains that stop only in towns or cities. They are not particularly comfortable, even though they are a little more expensive than Personal trains. Of all the train types, Accelerat tend to travel the longest distances - there are routes that cross the country: for example, from Oradea to Galaţi; (a huge distance) or from Timişoara; to Iaşi;, stopping at many stations en route. For this reason, Accelerat trains are very popular: even though they are seldom used for express travel between two large cities, they are extremely useful for cross-regional travel between smaller cities.
Rapid trains are the ones most commonly used by Romanians use to travel quickly and comfortably between main cities. Rapid trains do not travel very long distances - usually operating only on main lines and between key Romanian cities. They stop at most towns and all cities on the way. Especially recently, Rapid trains have become comfortable, especially in first class. The majority of Rapid trains have been refurbished to provide an attractive and comfortable travel experience. Rapid trains are of the same standard as other long-distance European trains.
InterCity is Romania's premier train status. It is the most expensive, but also by far the quickest and most comfortable. There are two main types of CFR InterCity: standard and Desiro. Desiro InterCity trains are run by modern diesel multiple units between the principal Romanian cities and stop only in sizeable cities (see CFR Development section for more information). Standard InterCity trains are made up of very comfortable and modern stock and run on routes similar to those of Rapid trains. Before early 2003, there was also a train type known as InterCityExpress (ICE), but these have been discontinued and transformed into IC, while maintaining the former ICE comfort. All IC trains are air-conditioned, and most provide complimentary newspapers and meals in first class. In terms of comfort, IC trains are of the standard of modern Western European trains.
EuroCity and EuroNight are usually not run by CFR alone, since they are all international trains. Not all international trains that come to or via Romania are EC or EN - most are usually run as Rapid trains on the territory of Romania. However, the night train from Belgrade to Bucharest is run as a EuroNight train, and there is both a EuroCity and a EuroNight train from Budapest to Bucharest via Arad. EuroCity trains are almost always comfortable and modern, even though not perhaps as comfortable as InterCity, but more similar to Rapid trains. EuroNight trains are very safe night trains of a Western European standard.
In 2003, CFR put into operation modern luxury trainsets from Siemens of Germany, with aim to connect all main cities in a modern IC network. The trainsets, known as (Siemens Desiro), were built in Germany, with some also being assemnbled in Arad, Romania. They are used on intercity-type trains (IC) in the following services:
In 2003, Connex GSM Romania, the country's largest mobile phone operator, struck a deal with CFR to provide quick mobile services to the CFR timetable and booking system. Currently, a 24-hour hotline operates where customers of Connex can call a certain three-digit number (652) and get real-time information on train routes, timetables, station platform depatures, delays, prices and ticketing information and booking of trains from Bucharest North station.Train Types
Personal and Cursa
Accelerat
Rapid
InterCity
EuroCity and EuroNight
CFR Development
Overall, Bucharest, Piteşti;, Ploieşti;, Slatina, Craiova, Tārgu Jiu, Alba Iulia, Sighişoara;, Braşov;, Suceava, Iaşi;, Tārgovişte;, Brăila;, Galaţi;, Giurgiu, Timişoara;, Tulcea, Medgidia, Arad, Oradea, Sibiu, Tārgu Mureş, Satu Mare, Baia Mare, Rāmnicu Vālcea and Cluj Napoca are serviced, as well as a few other smaller cities.Mobile Services