Romania - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 15 December 2024 to 13 December 2025, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained here.
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: Book 3) by M.G. Ball.
Obscure services
Teiuş avoiding line: Cistei (Ram. Podu Mures) – Sântimbru (Ram. Coşlariu)
[200A,300] (ERA-E 108A2; ERA-R 239C4) RO25/1
Click on the thumbnail to view the map

This east <=> west curve avoiding Teiuş is used by through trains shown on Table 200A with no timing at Teiuş. Use of the 'new' 3.4km curve south of Coşlariu Nou was confirmed in May 2024. There are two trains in the 2024-25 timetable.
346 | Bucureşti Nord - 22:00 Blaj - Wien Hbf | ||
347 | Wien Hbf - 08:01 Alba Iulia - Bucureşti Nord |
Mărăşeşti avoiding line: Putna Seacă (Mărăşeşti Ram. Putna) – Gral. Eremia Grigorescu (Mărăşeşti Ram. Gral. Eremia Grigorescu)
[500,704] (ERA-E 109A2; ERA-R 241B4) RO25/3
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 - 02:08 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1661 | Bucureşti Nord - 09:51 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1663 | Bucureşti Nord - 14:59 Focşani - Iaşi | ||
1668 | Iaşi – 01:24 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord | ||
1660 | Iaşi – 09:01 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord | ||
1662 | Iaşi – 17:12 Tecuci - Bucureşti Nord |
Paşcani avoiding line: Paşcani triaj – Ruginoasa
[500,606] (ERA-E 109A4; ERA-R 236B2) RO25/4
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 - 00:34 Roman - Iaşi/Chișinău | ||
1543 | Brașov – 18:05 Roman - Iaşi | ||
401 | Chișinău/Iaşi - 00:13 Târgu Frumos - Bucureşti Nord | ||
1541 | Iaşi - 07:08 Târgu Frumos - Brașov | ||
Note A | FO | 1851/5451 | Iaşi - 19:17 Târgu Frumos - Bacau |
Note A:- Not 27 June to 26 September 2025
(Suceava –) Cacica – Gura Humorului
[502, 513] (ERA-E 108C4; ERA-R 235C3) RO25/5
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) RO25/6
This west to north curve avoiding Tecuci station is used by trains between Mărăşeşti and Bârlad with no time shown at Tecuci.
11062 | Iaşi - 06:31 Barlad - București Nord | ||
11064 | Iaşi - 17:18 Barlad - București Nord | ||
1664 | Iaşi - 18:44 Tecuci Nord hc. – București Nord | ||
11063 | București Nord - 11:30 Mărășești - Iaşi | ||
11065 | București Nord - 17:50 Mărășești - Iaşi | ||
1665 | București Nord - 19:45 Mărășești - Iaşi |
Pantelimon – Bucureşti Obor
[800] (ERA-E 111A5; ERA-R 246C4) RO25/7
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. There is one train pair which runs between Bucureşti Nord and Bucureşti Obor but it reverses at Pantelimon station (which lies at the east end of the triangle) and hence do not traverse the W <=> S curve.
Bucureşti Baneasa - Ram. Pajura - Pajura Hm. (700) – Chitila)
[300/800/900] (ERA-E 110C5-111A5; ERA-R 246B4) RO24/8
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.
Note 1 | 1941 | Satu Mare – 03:17 Ploiești Vest - Mangalia | |
Note 2 | 11084/11080 | Brașov – 09:21 Ploiești Vest – Constanta/Mangalia | |
Note 2 | 11086/11088 | Mangalia/Constanta – 17:55 Bucureşti Baneasa - Brașov | |
Note 3 | 1942 | Mangalia - 20:02 Bucureşti Baneasa – Satu Mare |
Note 1: 13/14 June to 6/7 September 2025
Note 2: 27 April to 15 September 2024 operated by Regio Călători
Note 3: 14/15 June to 7/8 September 2025
Bucureşti Baneasa – Ram Pajura – Buc. Triaj Post 17 – Bucureşti Noi Gr.C. – Chiajna
[800/900] (ERA-E 111A5; ERA-R 246B4) RO25/9
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.
Note 1 | 1992 | Timișoara Nord - 04:38 Grădinari - Mangalia | |
Note 2 | 1990 | Mangalia - 00:38 Bucureşti Baneasa – Timișoara Nord |
Note 1: 13/14 June to 6/7 September 2025
Note 2: 14/15 June to 7/8 September 2025
Click on the thumbnail to view the map

Palas – Post Medeea – Constanţa P2 – Constanţa
[800] (ERA-E 111C5; ERA-R 246A5) RO25/11
This line diverges at Palas and allows access to the southern end of Constanţa station. 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.
Note 1 | 1912 | Sibiu – 05:37 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
Note 1 | 1941 | Satu Mare - 06:12 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
Note 1 | 1992 | Timișoara Nord – 07:10 Medgidia – Mangalia | |
Note 2 | 1922 | Oradea - 08:10 Medgidia - Mangalia | |
Note 3 | 1946 | Satu Mare – 09:15 Medgidia – Mangalia |
Note 1: 13/14 June to 06/07 September 2025
Note 2: 25/26 April to 3/4 May 2025 and 13/14 June to 06/07 September 2025
Note 3 25/26 April to 03/04 May 2025
Railway Map of Constanţa area:

Făurei avoiding line: Gâiseanca Hc – Cireşu Hm
[700,702] (ERA-E 109A1-B1; ERA-R 241B2) RO25/12
This southeast to northeast curve connects the Făurei to Galati and Făurei to Feteşti lines and is used by two seasonal train pairs.
Note 1 | 1972 | Constanţa – 20:51 Spicu - Galați | |
Note 2 | 1960 | Constanţa - 00:12 Tandarei - Iași | |
Note 3 | 1962 | Iași - 02:40 Ianca - Constanţa | |
Note 1 | R1970 | Galați - 06:42 Ianca hc. - Constanţa |
Note 1: 14 June to 7 September 2025
Note 2: 14/15 June to 7/8 September 2025 2024 Note 3: 13/14 June to 6/7 September 2025
Lunca Budieni to Copăcioasa "double track" section
[202] (ERA-E 108A1; ERA-R 239C2) RO25/13
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) RO25/14
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.
Note A | 13503 | 12:42 Brașov - Gheorgheni |
Note A:- This train runs instead of train 4509 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) RO25/15
Line 200 is double track as it approaches Sibiu from Podu Olt, but a (now lifted) connection allows trains to take a western route from Sibiu Gr. Șelimbăr Hm. to Atelier Zona h which bypassed Sibiu Triaj h. However, to avoid conflicts on that single line section, there is an alternative route through Sibiu Triaj.
All trains must take this route at present (December 2024) as the other, western track has been lifted, although signals and a sandy trackbed remain. The compilers would welcome any reports if the western track is relaid and put back into passenger usage.
Suceava avoiding line: Suceava Nord to Suceava Vest
(ERA-E 108C4; ERA-R 236A3) RO25/16
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 were no services in the 2023-24 timetable, and none in the 2024-25 timetable.
Pitești avoiding line: Bradu de Sus - Ram. Golești - Golești
(ERA-E 108C1; ERA-R 240B1) RO25/17
This 1.5km 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 and from 15 April 2024 until at least 10 August 2024 with trains will reversing at Bradu de Sus.
The engineering work appears to have finished with the start of the 2024-25 timetable.
Simeria: Line 202B (Eastern loop line)
(ERA-E 108A2 Not shown; ERA-R 239B3/4) RO25/18
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 at least 12 minutes rather than the usual 6-7 minutes. This diversion continues in the 2024-25 timetable period with journey times of 12-13 minutes. Check for the extended journey time to see if the diversion is still in operation.
[București Nord] - Chitila - Ramificatia Buciumeni - Mogoșoaia
(ERA-E 111A52; ERA-R 246B4) RO25/19
This provides an alternative route between Depoul București Triaj and Mogoșoaia. Current use is by three train pairs București Nord <=> Slobozia Veche, identifiable by a call at Chitila.
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.
B | Golenţi - Vidin Patnichesca (Bulgaria) | |
A3 | Salonta - Kotegyan (Hungary) | |
500 | Dorneşti - Vicşani - Vadu Siret (Ukraine) | The service was withdrawn in 2020 due to COVID-19 and has not as yet been reinstated |
103 | Giurgiu Nord - Ruse (Bulgaria) | |
Carei – Mateszalka (Hungary) | MAV service. No service from Carei to Tiborszállás from 10 December 2023. Due to construction work? | |
A4 | Valea de Mihai - Nyírábrány (Hungary) | |
Valea Viseului - Rakhiv (Ukraine) | Suspended | |
105 | Golești - Parcul Krețulescu | |
106 | Pitești - Curtea de Argeș | |
110 | Caracal - Corabia | |
112 | Golenți - Calafat | |
125 | Oravița - Anina | Only one train pair. |
212 | Margina - Ilia | |
216 | Sânnicolau Mare - Vălcani | |
218 | Sânnicolau Mare - Cenad | Replaced by buses |
302 | Ploiești Vest - Târgoviște | Only one train pair |
317 | Gurahont - Brad | |
409 | Salva - Viseu de Jos | |
413 | Săcuieni Bihor - Marghita | |
509 | Piatra Neamt - Bicaz |