![]() |
Home - City Guide - Bucharest - Rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rail Gara de Nord, Bulevardul G?rii de Nord 2 (tel: (01) 223 0880), named for its location in northern Bucharest, is the main train station. The newly elected 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. This station 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. Visitors entering the station without catching a train will be charged US$0.10 at the station entrance. Bucharest also has two smaller train stations - Gara Obor, Bulevardul G?rii 3, and Gara B?neasa, Strada Dr Minovici 1 - that run trains east to the coast, although the latter only provides these services in summer. The Romanian state railway, SNCFR (tel: (01) 223 2060; information (Bucharest only): 9521; website: www.cfr.ro), provides a reliable and often scenic means of transport to destinations outside Bucharest. Advance tickets for all trains can be purchased at their 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, indicated by IC on timetables, are fastest and only stop at major Romanian cities, such as Cluj-Napoca, Ia?i and Timi?oara. Next fastest are rapid trains (indicated in green), then accelerat (red). Direct trains also run to Budapest (13 hours), Sofia (10 hours), Belgrade (12 hours) and Istanbul (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. |
|