Local train classification changes starting December

The Tourism ministry will replace by the end of the year the train categories operated by Romanian Railroads CFR Calatori with ones existing in the European legislation. The current classification of Intercity (high-speed train), Rapid (high-speed train), Accelerat (average price), and Personal (lowest-price train) will be replaced with Intercity (IC), InterRegio (IR), Regio (R). The Intercity trains will be classified into Eurocity IC, Euronight IC, Intercity IC, and Intercity Night; the InteRegio trains into Interregio IR and Interregio Night; the Regio ones into Regio Express, Regio and Regio Urban/ Suburban.

The new classification will bring about a change in ticket prices to reflect the new train groups. According to the Transport minister Anca Boagiu, the new classification requires legislative changes, as well as changes to the existing professional regulations in this domain.

The Intercity Eurocity IC trains operate between major cities, in domestic or international traffic, and follow specific quality criteria, while the Euronight ones run under the same conditions but at night. The Intercity Night trains run at night and need to offer additional transport services such as sleeping cars. These types of trains can also accommodate carts of foreign railway operators offering their own services. Other optional services on these type of trains are the transport of cars in specialized wagons.

The InterRegio trains will stop in the main railways stations ensuring connections to other trains, and will run at an average speed of over 45 km per hour. The InterRegion Night trains will run at night at an average speed of minimum 40 kilometers per hour, will have sleeping cars, will make frequent stops in most locations on their route, and can also accommodate carts of foreign operators.

The Regio Express trains will ensure transport within specific geographical areas, at a speed of minimum 35 km per hour, and will not run between 11.00 pm and 4.00 am. The Regio train will stop in all stations, and will be available in connecting stations 15 minutes before and after the arrival of InterRegio and InterCity trains.