First Chinese Train Enters Passenger Service in Romania on Bucharest-Brasov Route
Beginning Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the first Chinese-built passenger train in Romania officially enters regular service, according to reporting by Oficiul de Știri and Economedia. Transport operator Astra Trans Carpatic is deploying the CRRC Sifang electric multiple unit on the rail route connecting Bucharest and Brașov after more than two years of testing, adjustments, and technical authorization.
Route Schedule and Daily Operations
The newly introduced electric train runs two round trips daily between Bucharest and Brașov, according to a schedule provided by Liviu Pescărașu, general manager of Astra Trans Carpatic, as cited by Club Feroviar and Economica.net. The morning run departs Bucharest at 07:44 and returns from Brașov at 11:46.
A second afternoon rotation leaves Bucharest at 15:40, with the return trip starting from Brașov at 18:40 and pulling into the capital at 21:04. Prior to the commercial launch, the train completed a formal presentation run on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, carrying company representatives including Valer Blidar, owner of the Astra group based in Arad, and Marian-Mihail Călin, director of strategy and development, according to Oficiul de Știri.
Technical Specifications and European Compliance
Manufactured by CRRC Sifang, the three-car articulated electric train model SFEMU-EU01 was developed specifically to meet European market standards rather than simply being adapted from domestic Chinese lines, according to Oficiul de Știri. The design complies with Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), fulfilling European regulatory requirements for crash safety and fire prevention.
The rolling stock features low floors and wide doors intended to quicken passenger boarding, supported by dedicated gap-compensation systems between the platform and the threshold, alongside mobile wheelchair ramps for passengers with reduced mobility. In addition, the train is equipped with two independent signaling systems to accommodate varying infrastructure requirements along Romanian rail lines.
Regulatory Timeline and Testing Phase
Although the CRRC Sifang train arrived in Romania during the spring of 2024, it remained out of service for over two years while undergoing the authorization process required for the national railway network, according to Oficiul de Știri. Test runs took place across several stretches of the network, including trials on Magistrala 800 and around the Fetești railway station in August 2025, as documented by Economica.net. These evaluations verified the train’s physical behavior on local infrastructure and confirmed its operational compatibility before regulatory clearance was granted for passenger transport.