Direct Message will run through October
CFR Călători has announced that the international train “România” will run daily from June 12 to October 12, 2026 between Bucharest and popular destinations in Bulgaria and Turkey, HotNews.ro writes.
A direct route to Varna will be launched from June 12, while direct flights to Sofia and Istanbul (Halkalı station) will be launched from June 13.
The train to Varna will depart from București Nord at 10:46 and arrive at the Bulgarian resort at 19:56. The train to Sofia will follow a similar schedule with arrival in the Bulgarian capital at 20:41. The route to Istanbul provides for an overnight journey with arrival the next day at 09:56.
How much tickets cost
The publication quotes the price of second-class tickets for the new routes:
– Bucharest – Varna: €27;
– Bucharest – Sofia: €33.6.
– A trip from Bucharest to Istanbul in a four-seat compartment carriage will cost €57.8.
Ticket sales are already open. They can be purchased 90 days before departure through CFR Călători’s international ticket offices and online on the carrier’s website.
Recall that there is also a daily train from Chisinau to Bucharest. It departs in the evening at about 17.00 and arrives in Bucharest at București Nord station early in the morning at 06.35. So a rail route when going on vacation can be quite demanded.
Why it is important for Moldova
For Moldovan passengers, the launch of the routes creates an additional overland option for traveling to the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and to Turkey via Romania. This may be especially relevant during the summer tourist season, when airfares traditionally rise and road border crossings face increased pressure.
In addition to its tourist significance, the resumption of international rail routes reflects a broader trend toward cross-border passenger connectivity in Southeast Europe. In recent years, the EU has been actively promoting the expansion of international rail transportation as a greener alternative to aviation and road transport.
The return of direct trains to Varna, Sofia and Istanbul shows the desire of rail operators to regain some of the passenger traffic that has shifted to airlines and bus carriers in recent years. For Bulgaria and Turkey, it is also an additional channel for attracting tourists from Romania and neighboring countries in the region.
Against the backdrop of growing interest in rail travel in Europe, such routes are gradually becoming not only a transportation but also a tourism product, especially for medium-distance travel.
