 The Prietenia at Chişinău. |
Introducing the Prietenia
A sleeper train called the Prietenia (Friendship) links Bucharest (Bucuresti) & Chisinau, capital of Moldova, every day.
Bucharest ► Chişinău
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The Prietenia leaves Bucharest Gara de Nord at 19:08, calling at Ungheni (Moldovan border) 04:08-06:03 & arriving Chişinău at 08:44.
It has 1st class 2-bed sleepers and 2nd class 4-bed sleepers, and a buffet counter. The train is jacked up at Ungheni to have its wheelsets changed from standard gauge to broad gauge.
Chişinău ► Bucharest
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The Prietenia leaves Chişinău at 17:05, calling at Ungheni (Moldovan border) 19:58-21:35, arriving Bucharest Gara de Nord at 06:35.
It has 1st class 2-bed sleepers and 2nd class 4-bed sleepers, and a buffet counter. The train is jacked up at Ungheni to have its wheelsets changed from broad gauge to standard gauge.
How much does it cost?
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The standard one-way fare is 134 Romanian Lei (€25) with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper, 155 Lei (€34) in 2-berth sleeper or 282 Lei (€61) with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
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Booked online in advance, you may find special fares for a bed in a 4-bed sleeper from just 89 Lei (€19).
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, book at the Romanian Railways website, bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Bucharest is listed as Bucuresti (Romania). Chisinau is listed as Kishinev (Moldova). Tickets must be collected from the station ticket office at Bucharest Nord, so don't use it for one-way journeys starting in Moldova.
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Option 2, book at the Moldovan Railways site www.railway.md.
The English booking page is on.railway.md:10000/?lang=en, please let me know if that stops working.
This can book the train in either direction with print-your-own tickets, it accepts foreign traveller passport numbers, and it has now been confirmed by several travellers that it works fine with most international Visa & MasterCard credit cards (if one fails, try another). Further feedback always appreciated.
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Alternatively, you can book the Bucharest to Chişinău train in person at the international booking office at Bucharest Nord station as there are almost always plenty of places available even on the day.
What's the train like?
The Prietenia has 1st class 2-bed sleepers and 2nd class 4-bed sleepers, and a buffet counter selling simple snacks and drinks. The carriages are Moldovan, of the classic ex-Soviet type.
The Prietenia from Chişinău to Bucharest at Chişinău. Photos below courtesy of Malcolm B, Peter Brogdale & Raphaël Lorenzo.
At Ungheni, the carriages are separated, jacked up, and the bogies are changed because of the difference in track gauge between Romania (standard gauge) and Moldova (broad gauge). You remain on board while this happens. Photos courtesy of @Simply_Railway.
Chişinău station
Chişinău station. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels and Discoverbyrail.com.
Chişinău station interior. Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels and Discoverbyrail.com.
Chişinău station platforms. Below, the Prietenia is ready to leave. Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels and Discoverbyrail.com.
