Private Train from Suceava to Bucharest: How the New Service Will Make It Easier for Ukrainians to Travel to the EU
13 March 15:17
Preparations are nearing completion in Romania for the launch of the first private train on the Suceava–Bucharest route. Ferotrafic TFI plans to launch the service at the end of March.
This was reported by the Romanian publication Monitorul de Suceava, citing company owner Dumitru Ancidin, according to[Komersant].
A new player in the transportation market
Ferotrafic TFI, based in Iasi, plans to expand its operations in the rail transport market in the Moldavia region.
Its owner, Dumitru Ancidin, previously headed the regional division of the state-owned freight carrier CFR Marfă.
The launch of the private service is intended to serve as an alternative to trains operated by the state-owned passenger carrier CFR Călători.
One daily service between Suceava and the capital
In the first phase, one pair of trains will run daily between Suceava and Bucharest.
The train will consist of two coupled railcars—cars with built-in engines. The total capacity will be approximately 320 passenger seats.
The schedule will be as follows:
- departure from Suceava — 07:00
- arrival in Bucharest — 12:39
Return trip:
- departure from Bucharest — 4:57 PM
- arrival in Suceava — 10:34 p.m.
Travel time will be approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes.
Why the train will be faster
According to the operator, the travel time was reduced thanks to:
- fewer stops;
- the absence of additional cars, which are often added en route;
- the use of modern railcars.
The trains were previously operated in Luxembourg, after which they were refurbished and adapted to Romanian railway standards.
Plans to expand routes
Ferotrafic TFI is considering the possibility of further expanding its route network.
Possible routes include:
- the Iasi–Bucharest route;
- the seasonal route from Suceava to Mangalia on the Black Sea coast.
Previously, the operator also purchased 33 diesel trains from Israel Railways for potential use on future routes.
The launch has already been postponed several times
Initially, the carrier’s launch was planned for May 2025, and later for September 2025.
Now the company expects to begin operations in late March 2026.
Why Suceava is important for Ukrainians
The city of Suceava is located approximately 40 km from the border with Ukraine.
Nearby is the Suceava–Stefan cel Mare International Airport, which has become one of the most popular transportation hubs for Ukrainians since the start of the war.
It can be reached via the Porubne–Siret border crossing.
In 2025, the low-cost carrier Wizz Air opened a base in Suceava and stationed Airbus A321neo aircraft there, which increased the number of flights.
Prospects for rail connections with Ukraine
Ukraine also plans to expand rail connections with Romania.
According to the border infrastructure development strategy, a 1,435 mm European gauge railway line between Chernivtsi and Suceava is planned to be built by 2030.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava reported on the possibility of starting construction in 2026.
