Getting There By Rail
Gara de Nord, Bulevardul Garii de Nord 2 (tel: (01) 223 0880), named for its location in northern Bucharest, is the city’s main train station. Mayor Traian Basescu (former Minister of Transport) has done much to clean it up but this has not deterred pickpockets and bag-snatchers, so visitors should watch their belongings. To discourage these problems, those entering the station without a train ticket are charged US$0.10 at the station entrance. Gara de Nord is a hub of activity, with ATM machines, fast-food restaurants, bars, newspaper stands, shops, a tourist agency, pharmacy, supermarket, florist, hair salon, 24-hour left-luggage and a waiting room for first-class ticket holders. The ticket counter is on the station’s right-hand side and at the private company, Wasteels (tel: (01) 222 7844, fax (01) 222 7863, e-mail: wasteels@fx.ro; website: http://wasteelstravel.ro), travellers can book international tickets and make reservations in advance. Bucharest also has two smaller train stations – Gara Obor, Bulevardul Garii 3, and Gara Baneasa, Strada Dr Minovici 1 – serving trains running east to the coast, during the summer.
The Romanian state railway, SNCFR (tel: (01) 9521 or 223 2060; website: www.cfr.ro), provides a reliable and often scenic means of transport to destinations outside Bucharest. Rail information is available (Bucharest only) by calling the information line (tel: 9521). Advance tickets for all trains can be purchased at the SNCFR offices on Strada Domnita Anastasia 10-14 (tel: (01) 313 2644). Visitors departing within 24 hours, however, must buy their tickets at the relevant train station, where queues can be long. Prices are reasonable and first-class tickets are recommended, as the extra comfort is worth the cost. Tickets are checked at the platform entrance.
Rail services: Trains are available to many Romanian destinations. There are four types – locals (personal) and express trains accelerat, rapid and InterCity. InterCity trains (indicated by IC on timetables) are fastest and only stop at major Romanian cities, such as Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Timisoara. The next fastest are rapid trains (indicated in green), then accelerat (red). Direct trains also run to Budapest (journey time – 13 hours), Sofia (journey time – 10 hours), Belgrade (journey time – 12 hours) and Istanbul (journey time – 20-24 hours). Trains to Western European cities run via Budapest.
Transport to the city: It is a 30-minute walk to the centre. The station is linked to a metro station and buses are available to every district in Bucharest. Taxis to the centre should cost no more than US$1.25.
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Getting There By Rail