Part VI: The train(s) back to Bucharest and perhaps the best scenery from the window to date
RE 4136, dep. Viseu de Jos (19:44), arr. Beclean pe Somes (21:52)
IRN 10642, dep. Beclean pe Somes (22:31), arr. Bucharest Gara de Nord (06:31 +1)
549 kilometres, 10 hours and 47 minutes
Second class seat on the first train, berth in four-person sleeper compartment on 2nd train: 118.89 RON (25.84 EUR) – some extra discounts included in the price
Today's route would consist out of two trains actually, as you can see on the map below. One regional train that stops at every stop between Viseu de Jos and Beclean pe Somes, where I connect to the sleeper train to Bucharest (which originates some hours before in Cluj).
There are two reasons why I opted for this connection above the direct sleeper train.
1. It has a 4-bed sleeper available, while the direct train only has 6-berth couchettes and 2-person and private sleepers.
2. It arrives earlier than the direct train, allowing me to start working from home at 9am sharp.
Now the little quirk here:
Both options leave at 19:44 from Viseu de Jos, but somehow if you make a change at Beclean pe Somes you arrive earlier in Bucharest than if you stay on the direct train. How can that be?
The train from Viseu de Jos to Beclean pe Somes is actually a train that originates further north in the town of Sighetu Marmatiei, and goes to Cluj and Timisoara. Attached to it are through cars marked for Bucharest, which are detached at Beclean pe Somes where they stay a few hours and are later attached to a Bucharest-bound train.
In that time frame, another Bucharest-bound stops at Beclean pe Somes on another platform, thus overtaking the through carriages which remain stationary at the station waiting for a later train. So unless you really don't feel like leaving your carriage, there is no reason whatsoever to opt for the slower option here!
The map of today's route (sort off, as it shows the nearest road since Google Maps won't recognise trains here). From Viseu de Jos to Beclean pe Somes (the red dot), where I change trains to Bucharest.
I had a normal second class seat for the two hours from Viseu de Jos to Beclean pe Somes. I did however not sit down for even a second, as I was standing in the corridor alongside all the compartments in the train. Completely voluntary, as the windows here could open and the scenery was amazing. Nothing better than (with a bit of caution!) hanging your head outside the train, feel the fresh air into your hair, and snap some good pictures.
The train tracks are a few metres up on an elevated track above the valley as it crosses a small mountain pass from Maramures back into Transylvania. I let the pics do the talking here.
We reached Beclean pe Somes on time, and the 40 minutes wait went by fast. No pictures from inside the second train unfortunately – the train originated some hours before in Cluj and as it was already dark, the 2 people inside the other beds in the compartment were already asleep.
As I was tired, I quickly went to sleep as well, getting a solid six hours of sleep.
I managed some pictures in the morning however of the train sneaking through the forests out of the Carpathian Mountains at dawn, stopping at the station of Ploiesti, and arriving in the city of Bucharest.
We arrived with a 15-minute delay, which I didn't mind much as I was still perfectly on time back home to start a day's work from my own kitchen table, fully rested after a good night of sleep.
All in all, it was a perfect weekend getaway. For those who sleep well on overnight trains, it is a perfect way to maximise time during daylight hours, giving you two full days on Saturday and Sunday if making a weekend trip.
I will definitely repeat the experience soon to other parts in the country. High on my list is a
new private operator with affordable private sleepers (around 75 EUR) incl. shower what I've raid. It goes from Bucharest to Arad – a city where I have never been before, so should make a good future trip (one day in Arad, combined with one day in nearby Timisoara which is a better-known and more visited city).
Thanks for reading and commenting, I hope you all liked the ride!
Next up something completely different: In about 1-2 weeks from now a trip report flying 0B (Blue Air) in Y and downing litres of beers at the Oktoberfest in Germany