CFR Călători trains

CFR Călători runs Romania's national passenger rail network, connecting Bucharest with every major Romanian city and linking the country to its neighbours. If you are planning a Romanian leg of an Interrail or Eurail trip, or travelling on a domestic Romanian ticket, CFR Călători is the operator you will be using for almost every journey.

Romania's domestic network runs on a clear hierarchy of train categories. Regio (R) trains are the slowest and stop everywhere, but they carry no reservation requirement at all, so they are the easiest option if you are travelling on a pass and do not want to plan ahead. Regio Express (RE) trains run a little faster with fewer stops; reservation is possible but not required. InterRegio (IR) and InterCity (IC) trains are Romania's faster, longer-distance services, and on both, seat reservation is compulsory, for pass holders and ticket holders alike. This is the detail that catches out first-time visitors: turning up to an IC or IR platform with only a rail pass and no reservation is not enough, and conductors do check.

Reservation fees on CFR's IC and IR trains are modest but not free, and pass holders cannot skip them. International CFR services, including connections toward Hungary, also require a reservation, typically at a higher cost than the equivalent domestic fee. Book your seat as early as your plans allow, especially on IC trains around Bucharest, where demand is highest.

Making a reservation for a domestic CFR Călători train is not something you can do through the standard Interrail or Eurail online reservation system. You need to book at a station ticket counter in Romania itself, so build a station visit into your plans a day or two before travelling on an IC or IR service, rather than assuming you can sort it out just before departure. Some international reservations, including couchette and sleeper supplements for trains linking Romania with Austria and Hungary, can instead be booked online through the Austrian (ÖBB) or Hungarian (MÁV) websites, which is often the more convenient route if your journey starts outside Romania.

For most journeys around Romania, the practical rule is straightforward. Stick to Regio trains if you want to travel without a booking step. Treat IC and InterRegio as needing a station visit and a small reservation fee before you board, not something to leave until you are already on the platform.