CFR Călători

Last updated: March 14, 2026

The Societatea Natională de Transport Feroviar de Călători “CFR Călători” S.A., or CFR Călători for short, is the state railway company of Romania and operates the majority of passenger services on the Romanian rail network.

Summary

FIP 50 and FIP Coupons are accepted
Reservation required on most long-distance trains and partially on regional services
Limited booking options

Validity of FIP Tickets

FIP Coupon: ✅FIP Coupon for relatives: ⛔FIP 50 Tickets: ✅

FIP Coupons and FIP 50 Tickets are valid on CFR Călători services. For cross-border journeys, either a continuous FIP 50 Ticket or FIP Coupons for both countries are required.

Train Categories and Reservations

The train categories are partially used by other operators in Romania as well. For FIP usage, it is important to verify that the operator is CFR Călători.

National long-distance trains with few intermediate stops and comparatively higher comfort. They mainly run from Bucharest in various directions across the country.

Risk of Confusion

IC trains are partially operated by other operators in Romania as well. For FIP usage, it is important to verify that the operator is CFR Călători.

Reservation

A seat reservation is mandatory. If the train is fully booked, a standing reservation can be purchased.

Reservation cost: RON 5

Comparatively fast trains connecting major cities with few intermediate stops. Some also run cross-border, particularly to Hungary.

Risk of Confusion

IR trains are partially operated by other operators in Romania as well. For FIP usage, it is important to verify that the operator is CFR Călători.

Reservation

A seat reservation is mandatory. If the train is fully booked, a standing reservation can be purchased.

Reservation cost: RON 5 for national routes

Mostly international trains running overnight. They are also partially listed as D in the journey planners of other providers.

These trains usually include couchette or sleeper cars, which can be used with a corresponding reservation.

Risk of Confusion

IRN trains are partially operated by other operators in Romania as well. For FIP usage, it is important to verify that the operator is CFR Călători.

Reservation

A reservation is mandatory, either for a seat, couchette or sleeper berth. If the train is fully booked, a standing reservation can be purchased.

Reservation cost: RON 5 for seat and standing reservations on national routes

For couchette and sleeper cars, the following prices apply on national routes: Price list for couchette and sleeper cars

International trains to Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine run without a specific train category and only have a train number.

These trains often include couchette or sleeper cars, which can be used with a corresponding reservation.

Risk of Confusion

These trains are partially operated by other operators in Romania as well. For FIP usage, it is important to verify that the operator is CFR Călători.

Reservation

A reservation is often mandatory (indicated by an R in the journey planner). If the train is fully booked, a standing reservation can be purchased.

Reservation cost: RON 5 for seat and standing reservations on national routes

For couchette and sleeper cars, the following prices apply on national routes: Price list for couchette and sleeper cars

Regional trains that also serve smaller towns. The various trains on a route often do not have a fixed stopping pattern, meaning smaller stops are only served by some R trains.

Risk of Confusion

R trains are partially operated by other operators in Romania as well. For FIP usage, it is important to verify that the operator is CFR Călători.

Reservation

A reservation is required for some trains, indicated by an R.

Reservation cost: RON 1

Ticket and Reservation Purchase

Online

Reservations

The reservation price is calculated per journey. This means that for connections with transfers, you only need to pay once for multiple trains.

Seat reservations can be purchased via the Deutsche Bahn website. To do so, select the “Book seat only” option in the search.

To Booking Website Additional Information

On-Site

FIP 50 Tickets

At the CFR Călători Ticket Office, FIP 50 Tickets can be purchased for journeys within Romania, and at international ticket counters also for journeys to Bulgaria and Hungary. Since FIP tickets are not valid in Moldova and Ukraine, tickets and reservations can be sold up to the last stop in Romania for journeys to these two countries, with full-price tickets for the remaining section. The situation is similar for Turkey, where bookings can be made up to the last stop in Bulgaria.

An overview of the international ticket counters can be found on the CFR Călători Website.

Reservations

Seat and standing reservations for national routes can be purchased on-site for a price of RON 5 for long-distance trains and RON 1 for R trains. When using a FIP Coupon, it must be presented. The number of the FIP Coupon will then be printed on the ticket.

For couchette and sleeper cars, the following prices apply on national routes: Price list for couchette and sleeper cars

Additional Information

On the Train

FIP-discounted tickets cannot be purchased on the train. Reservations must also be obtained before departure.

Discounts

For regular tickets, children under 5 travel free of charge. Children under 10 receive a 50% discount on the adult fare. Older children pay the full adult fare.¹

Special Tariff Conditions

Break of journey

With FIP 50 tickets, a journey interruption is permitted only once and for a maximum of 24 hours from the time of arrival at the station where the journey is interrupted. To qualify, the ticket must be validated within one hour of arrival.¹

Recommendations

Personal Tip

CFR Călători provides a solid basic service on Romania’s largely ageing rail network, especially on the main routes. Apart from the reservation requirement on most connections, travelling the country with FIP is relatively straightforward. Particular highlights include the international trains towards Western Europe as well as the well-known trains towards Moldova and Turkey, even though the latter cannot be used with FIP for the entire journey.

Sources

Rail Delivery Group ↩︎ ↩︎