​Between Cluj and Oradea, on Highway 300, there will be no more direct trains until at least 2024, as the modernization and electrification of the line, a project costing almost two billion euros, begins. In which areas will trains stop running altogether from January 1, 2024, and where will minibuses and buses be placed. Completion of railway infrastructure works on all four lots is planned for 2026.

Cluj – Oradea, without direct trains

From January 1, 2024, railway traffic will be completely closed for 89 km between Cluj and Oradea, and for 28 km trains will run on one line. Minibuses or buses will run for 22 km, not a train.

The electrification of this important area has been talked about for more than 3 decades. Currently, there are few sections where trains exceed the speed of 100 km/h, especially since the route passes through mountainous terrain. The fastest trains have an average speed of 60 km/h. There have never been trains that took less than 2 hours and 12 minutes, especially since there are long mountain sections.

Between Cluj and Oradea, you can admire the most beautiful scenery that can be seen in the country from the train window. About 40 km from Oradea, in the direction of Cluj, the picturesque scenery begins, and at Vada Krišului the railway enters the Krišului Repede gorge (a beautiful area of ​​gorges). Then there are several tens of interesting minutes with impressive landscapes from the region of the Apuseni mountains. At Ciucea the train enters a gorge with other beautiful scenery.

There are 19 trains per day between Cluj and Oradea, of which two thirds are with CFR Călători and the rest with TFC and Transferoviar. The fastest is the international train, which takes two and a half hours, with two intermediate stops. The slowest trains, which stop at 42 intermediate stations, take 3 hours 50 minutes.

During the communist era, almost all railway lines were electrified, but after 1989 nothing was done. Romania has approximately 40% of the electrified network, while Switzerland has 100% and the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium more than 75%. The Baltic States and Ireland have the lowest percentage of electrified networks.

Trains have been running between Oradea and Cluj for 153 years, the railway was opened on September 7, 1870 under the name Nagyvárad–Kolozsvár-vasútvonal.

What CFR SA says in response to HotNews.ro

“As part of the project “Electrification and rehabilitation of the railway line Cluj-Napoca – Oradea – Bishopric of Bihor”, works will be carried out simultaneously on all four lots, respectively: Lot 1 Cluj-Napoca – Aguirres, Lot 2 Aguirres – Poeni, Lot 3 Poeni – Alesd, lot 4 Alesd is the border with Hungary.

We estimate the complete closure of rail traffic on the Aghires – Poieni (double line) and Poieni – Alesd (single line) sections starting from January 2024. We note the fact that, starting from 01.01.2024, when train traffic will be closed on the Aguirres – Huedin distance (part of Lot 2 Aguirres – Poeni), trains will run alternately, on one line on the Cluj-Napoca – Aguirres section, so that for the Aguirres connection – Hudin vehicles will be available for passengers during transshipment.

Regarding the movement of freight trains, we note that it will be diverted to alternative routes.

Completion of railway infrastructure works on all four lots is scheduled for 2026.”

Kilometer distances Cluj-Oradea – Border

Cluj-Napoca – Aguireş (28 km) – Houdin (50 km) – Poeni (65 km) – Chuca (72 km) – Álesd (118 km) – Oradea (152 km) – Diocese of Bihor (158 km) – Border (165 km) ) ).

It is possible that some international trains leaving the country for Hungary via the Episcopia Bihor border crossing will have a significantly changed route and will leave the country via Valea lui Mihai.

Four lots, builders and cost

Lot 1: Cluj-Napoca – Aguireş (30.41 km), RAILWORKS association was recognized as the winner (20.10.2022). Contract for the amount of 1,611,475,802.43 lei, excluding VAT

Lot 2: Aghireș – Poieni (36.53 km) RAILWORKS association was recognized as the winner (2.11.2022) Contract for the amount of 1,535,202,975.30 lei excluding VAT

Lot 3: Poieni – Alesd (52.74 km) FCC CONSTRUCCION – GULERMAK – CCN Association, lot 3 (20/10/2022) has been declared the winner. Contract 2,117,167,899.08 lei without VAT.

Lot 4: Alesd – Frontieră (46.74 km) association WEBUILD SPA – IMPRESA PIZZAROTTI&C SPA – SALCEF SPA was named the winner (20.10.2022). The contract for the amount of 2,416,850,365.99 lei without VAT.

How long was the 152 km journey between Cluj and Oradea by the fastest train:

1929: 2 hours 53 minutes

1939: 2 hours 22 minutes

1961: 2 hours 27 minutes

1971: 2 hours 17 minutes

1980: 2 hours 19 minutes

1989: 2 hours 12 minutes

1996: 2 hours 16 minutes

2005: 2 hours 18 minutes

2010: 2 hours 28 minutes

2015: 2 hours 29 minutes

2022: 2 hours 30 minutes