INSIDE Romania’s secret luxury train! 

As a romanian I can tell you that many people avoid train travel. I personally enjoy it. It reminds me of my childhood when I used to ride the train to my grandparents. Back then there was only SNCFR/CFR, but now there are some private companies that are trying to change the train travel experience. The main issue though, is that the infrastructure is old in many parts of the country. I still prefer taking a train over a car just for the wonderful scenery that we have in Romania. I live in Cluj-Napoca and I can tell you that many things have changed to its train station. The architecture remained the same though, and I really appreciate that.

I was in Romania a few weeks ago and found the trains decent enough. Not great compared to modern Western European trains, but they were good. Affordable and did the job. I took an IR train from Bucharest to Sinaia (80 mins roughly) and an R train back to Bucharest (150 mins). Both with CFR. I also took the train from Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria. Turkish coach TBF. I've not done long distance/overnight travel in Romania, but looks good enough if you have realistic expectations. Huge fan of the channel BTW 👍

A Romanian friend living in Germany showed me pictures of average Romanian trains in order to demonstrate how bad trains are in Romania. I looked at the pictures and said that those trains remind me of average German trains 30 years ago. And those were the trains of my childhood. And everybody loves the trains of his childhood - at least I do! :) So now I cannot get rid of this idea to travel to Romania in order to experience the trains of my childhood again... And this ladies and gentlemen is how a grown up man is watching (and commenting) a video about a Romanian trains at 4 o'clock in the morning.

Thought about riding this train many times, and this makes me want to ride it even more. I love how posh but fair priced it is.

Sad, that Astra does not have more trains like this and they are trying to use former DSB IC 2 trains. This one is a nice one.

I legitimatly was hyped when I saw your thumbnail, that's my train of choice when I go to mamaia beach in the summer!

i love your videos, by far the best train trip reports!

As a romanian i can definitely say that the back and forth sway is the best thing about Romanian train rides, as it will lul you to sleep or at least put you in a slight trance. Then there's that repeating track sound, ta ta ta taaa... ta ta ta taaa... zzZzZzzZZzzzZzzzzz

Heh, I wil also take that train from Bucharest to Arad on friday. Also in a single dormitory. Good preview for what to expect. Thanks! And thank you for visiting and making good quality content aroumd here, even if we don't have the best trains. Cheers!

The seating carriage is the same as the Czech RegioJet Astra coaches from the same manufacturer, albeit without the seatback entertainment system.

Cool Train, good for Romania, they might be improving their services. 👍🚂

seeing this a month late but as a Romanian i must say your pronunciation for the Citys Are quite on point! and i hope you had fun in Romania if you stuck around for some time!

I commented on this video last night when i saw it. Today when i verified for a reply from you i was surprised that my comment was nowhere to be found. I was very happy to see this video because i am from Arad and i am a train engineer. I asked you in the comment if you want to meet for a beer and talk trains… and if you’re interested in a tour of the town. Of course if you haven’t left the country… hopefully this comment reaches you.

Sooo.... can I also rent a Croatian locomotive?

Amazing ! As a romanian, is first time when I see such a nice, clean and kind of modern train, haha ! Thank you for the video ! I was few times on the same path as you and during the day is something else, I can assure you of that :D

Not many people can get away with stating that they "quite like" a particular escalator! Luckily we know the way Superalbs thinks 😂

I took that train and it was great, when it passes the mountains look out at the sky, theres no light around and you can see how the sky really looks. If you only live in the city, you'll be shook

Great trip. Overall great room and great facility.

New trains made by Alstom (Re-IR1) in Poland, 33 to be precise, will begin to arrive in December and will be put in circulation on the main routes in Romania.

17 mins late is actually an early arrival by our Indian railways standard 😂

Fantastic review thanks for the upload!

Can’t tell you how many times I took CFR train along the same route especially in autumn and winter, I always loved it but can be a little unusual to most Western Europeans.

always love your reviews, keep it up

hey! thanks for posting another romanian train video!

It's a pity you didn't continue on the same train to Constanţa, took pictures out of the window, then flew back on a cheap Wizz Air flight.

I tried their website. It turns out that single ocupancy for this sleeper should cost 310RON - one way from Arad to Bucuresti

fun (maybe) fact - i grew up in arad - those escalators weren't there before and the "holes" where the escalators go used to be windows to the outside of the building

I've actually been on thus train. Had an ensuite shower. Water pressure not great but still its a shower on a train! We were a little late too but as it was due before 7.30 that wasn't a problem.

I'm from India and thanks for the 24/7 live adoration chapel. It's a great idea because I pray everyday at my convenient time and get blessed.

If you like the swaying it's even stronger on a top bed in a 6 bed compartment, you find those with CFR, however in the summer it is really hot on the top bed.

Fair to point out the lack of towels in the shower. I shall follow D.Adams in always carrying a towel whilst engaging in intergalactic travel.

I am from 😊 Romania . And yea i live in Arad , i love me city Arad.

If Romania will modernise the railways (hopefully) I hope that this service will no longer be needed (as the distance between Arad and Bucharest could be made by a day train in approx. 6 hours after the modernisation) and someday CFR Călători will overtake these trains to international night train routes from Cluj via Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg. I would prefer to go with this train from Cluj to Hamburg instead of flying. Hope that the modernization works in Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany (Austria has really good railways btw) will permit this train to go from Romania to Germany.

Geez, I wish Amtrak was this nice!

I'm romanian and didn't knew we had luxury trains. We don't have that many train enthusiasts, and usually if a person can afford this, they will chose a different transportation method....in most case ersonal car...🙂

6:49 windows that open. if i had my way that would be mandatory on all trains 😂 instead its becoming a rarity on new built carriages

Thank you for this video, I didn't know this train existed. I appreciate your Romanian pronunciation 🫡

Have taken this route many times and everytime i am greatful that i went with Astra. The ride quality is impeccable, everything is how you'd like it to be. Many levels above the same route operated by the state CFR, yet at the same price.

Excellent video and here's the thing about the Croatian locomotive its the cousin of it's US version the Amtrak MARC SEPTA NJ Transit ALP-44M AEM-7. Because both the United States and Croatia which used to be part of Yugoslavia got the licence to make the Swedish Railways Rc series of locomotives. For Astra Carriage Works they need to use their carriage designs and shrink them for the UK loading gauge if GWR needs to replace their ageing 1980s Mk3 sleepers.

I travelled twice with Astra and they are the best operator by far in romania. I really appreciated the free WiFi as CFR doesn't has Internet.

I actually live in Arad and I often take the train to Timisoara with my friends, I even took the train to Bucharest, but i never knew trains have SHOWERS! Anyway, this train looks amazing compared to what trains I've been on, but the price is mindblowing for me, although it's understandable because that train looks like a house😭

I didn't even know there was a market for that. Made my night.

it´s good but for now, it has a VERY LIMITED course. CFR goes all over the country, even to the most remoted places.

A little correction: The locomotive was built in Craiova (a city in Romania), and not Croatia (I can see the confusion here). These locomotives like the one that hauled the train you took are, in fact Romanian made by Electroputere - Craiova back in the communist era. Thank you for the wonderful content! LE: I might be wrong on this one, as I see that there are some locomotives that are the same model as this one made indeed in Croatia. The thing is that communist Romania copied a lot of western stuff...

i am glad some of you enjoied the travels with the trains. peronaly i haven't whent with this specific train, even tough i am a Romanian. i will travel with the train this month for the holidays to Herculane, for recovery, and relax. i am also passionate about trains, since it is a childhood thing as well.

BIG LIKE BRO. 10X TO TIS VIDEO. SALUTI DI LA ROMANIA ;)

Good review. Still perplexed how they can offer showers but no towels though. 😳

the gp on the locomotive means grampetcargo

I find your videos very enjoyable and I'm even not into trains.😊

This looks like a nice train ride to get on.

There is the single option on their site for both standard and deluxe cabins, no need to purchase two. It's 62 euro for what you used in the video.

1:42 actually almost all the trains I went on had sockets to charge your phone

You forgot to check "pizza 5 colțuri" across the street in Arad ! 😁😁😁

Kapan anda pergi ke Indonesia? Kita punya kereta peluru 350km/h dan kereta suite compartement class yang paling mewah di dunia.

Was the journey worth a trip or was it not as good. I have to say that Romania does have very nice trains and it’s quite a nice country.

you can try IR406 Corona IC from Budapest to Brasov a very nice train with restaurant one of the most luxuary train in Romania

i thought the train to be very nice, and as you said its a shame that the only downside is that we dont get to see the lovely scenery as you travel to Bucharest, but still a nice vid, thx Albs :)

Trains are quite old but soon there will be 97 new trains in Romania (2024-2026), 37 Alstom trains for long trips and 60 Pesa trains for short trips. Anyway not only the trains is the problem but the railways too, infrastucture is very old.

OK it is good to know... , thanks for info

My recommendation to you since you like presenting trains would be to give it a try and...message the Romanian Royal Family as they have their own unique train! it's worth a shot why not? their are very friendly and enjoy any type of media presentations as they often do musem openings and such at their palaces. All the best.

that carriage looks like what people in the 60s would have imagined 2023 will look like.

Same design with Corail coaches? Do you mean the same Y32 bogies? Also Turkish coaches were produced under the licence with this bogie.

I enjoyed this, but some live commentary wouldn't go amiss, rather than the voice over.

I declare the following: the most comfortable and price friendly train on Romania's territory is the MAV's Corona, from Brașov to Budapest.

Thank you for the nice video

Finally somone doing something about my home

3:19 you can take that train in Timisoara and ride all the way to the Black Sean in comfort? nice

as i live in Arad,right near the train station there is the Atrium Mall,it's not great,but u shall do a video sbt it

i was at the trainstasion in arad with my grandma thats a fun fact :)

the international sleeper trains on the state provider (CFR) are almost the same.

Great video. The train looks a bit dated and a bit tacky, but somehow comfortable.

Excellent, objective video!

How about the catering? Any foods and drinks available?

I am Romanian and I did not use a train in last 10 years :)). We only travel by car . I even forgot we have trains here :))

They should try Talgo carriages on Romanian tracks like they try in Kazakstan

If there don't offer towels one can use the bedding 😈

Vandhe bharat next, maybe?

Nice video 👍🏻

They should run the overnight trains to Budapest and Vienna as both MÁV - CFR providing quite questionable service...

Can't say I was over-impressed with Romania's 'best' train :-( For a rather expensive 2-bed couchette, you have nowhere to comfortably sit in the cabin once the beds are made. This may be a problem with sleeper trains in general, where it is presumed you will lie rather than sit. This coupled with the fact that there seems to be no onboard catering - at least for breakfast - for which you would need to be able to sit. The lack of a cafeteria on any long-distance train is a downer for me. You never even mentioned the question of food/drink :-( What did you do? While it seems you were passably comfortable I am not seeing anything that would attract me to take this train. Paul in Oz.

great

Great video. Does ASTRA have a dining car? Thanks ❤

Its not a secret train its just a private train. And its "secret" because romanias is known for its bad trains sooo.......... (I did ride on one) (Btw those coaches are not "new" they are just cleaned really well)

"Welcome, welcome to City 17"

It looks nice, but whether it can compete with the plane ? 85 Euro is not exactly cheap ..

Can you please go to belguim and review some trains there like te intercity train between Ostend and Eupen (longest train route in belguim)

I plan to go to Arad someday, my ancestors thrived there for several generations before they lost everything to the Nazis and communists and fled. Maybe I’ll take this train!

8:04 Thats not soap😂😂 Thats disinfectant

The VAST majority of Romanians use trains and other forms of transportation as their main means of travel, most Romanians don't even own a car because they don't have to. The train quality in Romania is no different than in Switzerland or any other central European nation and it can be better in terms of coverage, it's literally one of the largest transportation networks in Europe. The difference is money, ergo track quality, and train luxury. Even so, the difference in higher-speed tracks is quite minimal when you look at times and compare them depending on where you are going, and either way, it's almost always faster than by car, and sometimes faster than by plane. I find that the train quality while lacking when compared to ultra-rich nations like Switzerland, is pretty much the same in terms of coverage, speed, frequency, and accessibility, all for much cheaper, and all on a much smaller budget. You are more likely to run into less likable trains in Romania, but you are even more likely to get a good or just fine train, as most are quite standardized too. With this in mind, even from some of the more grimy train videos, I see why Romanians use their trains so much, despite not liking them either, because it would be inconvenient not to for most.

Astra Trans Carpatic has it's own locomotive and the colors are the same; I don't know why they use a rail cargo loco!!!!!!!!

neglected the most importanf question- is there a dining car or bar car

The carriages look 1-1 from the outside to the old swiss trains

Can you try the IC service from Bucharest to cluj Napoca

cool

"Why don't people fly first class on planes?" "Clearly it's because there aren't enough first class seats!" Come on, it's Romania. People aren't going to pay expensive for something like a train ride.

Is there a room for wheelchairs on this train, because the room would be big enough to park my segway wheelchair inside, but the hallway seems very small... the stairs can be overcome by a special wheelchair lift as they offer in austria and Zagreb... I like to travel on sleeper trains with my wheelchair. I can walk a few steps by the way.

I WILL SAY SOMETING IN ROMANIAN,(Salut,Craciun fericit)

i am from romania :D

Homie, i'm hoooooome!

when he speaks Romanian he sounds like that guy doing memes explaining Romanian idioms