The last SOVIET overnight train in Europe (Scary border crossing) Moldova to Romania by rail
Vložit
- čas přidán 6. 05. 2023
- Follow me on Twitter / intercitysimon
Tonight im traveling on the last soviet night train to travel to Europe, connecting the mysterious nation of Moldova to Romania overnight. This was the most scared i've ever been corsing a border, but we made it in the end! Come along for a eventful journey along the Romanian and Moldovan frontier
Train type: TE33AC + WLA + WLB + WLBR carriges
Route: Chişinău to Bucureşti Nord
Train: 401 "Prietenia"
Distance: 595km
Journey time: 12h59m
Average speed: 46 km/h
Price: 241 RON or 49 EUR
Hey Ho, Let’s Go!!
Dammit, you beat me to it! 😆
Indeed!
On the question would i ride this train? Well of course, ever since i saw the video.
Folklore and Rock'n'roll!
What a damn tune ,the press people were dancing round the hall to it.😊❤
Pleacă trenul! Unde esti?
Lol ! The 2022 Moldova entry to the Eurovision Songfestival , trenuletul ('lirtle train') , was about this train connection ! It was a crazy techno folk tune about the train , but between the lines also more politacal about closer relations to Romania (&EU) , i think ....
" Hey ho , let's go !!"
czcams.com/video/bGNT5Uh-WKw/video.html
thanks for bringing this up! just watched the song now. a great companion to this video, especially halfway through when the customs officer enters :)
Those sleeping cars are known as Ammendorf, they were built in the former DDR for the Soviet Union, China, North Korea and Mongolia, little number of this wagon were bought from Iran for service from Tehran to Azerbaijan.
As Eastern Bloc enthusiast I traveled also with the Transmongolian train from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar operated by the Mongolian Railways MTZ, my journey was made with this type of Ammendorf wagon painted in dark green.
While Ammendorf sleeping cars built for China is known as YW/RW18 or 19 that run mainly from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar and Moscow with gauge changing in Erenhot, also them were built in East Germany until 1995 once reunified and later some of them were modernized by CRRC Sifang, the upgrade include the self air conditioning system without coal, very typical on early Soviet and Chinese sleeping cars.
These amazing Ammendorf are traveling across Europe to Eastern Asia.
And compared to the German or European rolling stock in general, Ammendorf have large size, this is why DDR once reunified with Germany and Poland after the Cold War they become UIC, Ammendorf sleeping cars from Moscow or Kiev cannot run on German or Polish/Czech railway since the loading gauge rule has changed becoming UIC member, except for Romania.
I’m still remember when the Soviet contingent (GSVG) in the DDR travelled from the USSR with this train, destination Wünsdorf.
These Ammendorf are a classic and their usage across such a broad part of the world is wild!
Even after German reunification, these old style sleepers were apparently still supplied/sold to Russia. I noticed the Ammendorf-style wagons were made in Gorlitz (former DDR) in 1992-93.
@@uyauabing
Yes, VEB Görlitz was also the first supplier to the Soviet Union and China for the Transmongolian railway to connect beyond Europe also Moscow-Ulaanbaatar and Beijing with changeable bogies sleeping cars.
VEB Görlitz is especially for WLABm RIC sleeping cars since 1969 and after German reunification they made WLABmee in 1994 for RZD which also involved former Czechoslovakia with Vukv company for the development of GP 200 standard gauge bogies equipped with three discs brake per axle, beyond Moscow-Berlin Lichtenberg service, WLABmee sleeping cars were used extensively on the Moscow-Nice service, but due the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine since 2022 the service was interrupted.
While the last batch of YW18 Ammendorf for China were produced until 1995, RW18/19 is the Ammendorf especially built for the Chinese Railways with only first class 8 compartments, very unusual for standard Ammendorf sleeping cars which usually have nine compartments.
At the end GDR was very important for Eastern Bloc, Soviet and Chinese rail transportation, but also in North Korea.
Sounds like it was in Ammendorf sleeping cars I was in when I travelled from Beijing, through the USSR and on to catch a ferry in Belgium in 1986. I travelled through NE China and spent a couple of days in Irkutsk and Moscow.
@@user-yk9em3je6q
Yep, China for international services they still use Ammendorf, but I think that in the future they will be replaced with the Chinese built RW25G, similar with Ammendorf, but is more comfortable and is equipped with self air conditioning system.
While the Mongolian Railways (MTZ) RW25G have ribs to make look like Ammendorf and other Soviet rolling stock.
Also from Almaty to Urumqi Kazakh Railways (KTZ) Ammendorf were replaced by RW25G operated by the Chinese.
considering the age of the train station and trains, they are doing a remarkable job at keeping them in condition. good job moldova! :)
I've used the same train, and apparently was more lucky at the border. The customs officers just walked through and didn't bother me. The train was on time. Other than that, it's exactly as you describe. A soviet relic experience. Dual-gauge and modern equipment would be a considerable improvement, but there's no way they will ever be able to finance that with the ticket prices.
This vintage Soviet train is very cozy and jazzy. Very nice interior from the sixties.
Chisinau station looks immaculate
I find peace in this train station as well as the sleeper for the first time in decades. "Cash only Kiosk" and coal-heated coaches are absolutely fantastic.
I was riding this train in 2013 from Bucharest to Chisinau. Also I was a few times in Chisinau before 2015. I can say, even though the Chisinau railway station wasn't looking bad, it was definitely worse than you show it on the video. So they really improved it for these years. As for the cross-border train, we have similar trains in Ukraine, but they are better renovated and maintained - at least I compare to 2013 when I had this trip. This train looked really like a time machine. The biggest impression was also on the border, because after the border control was finished, wagons were brought back to the border and contrabandists were quickly loading something into the train. The conductor was actively taking part in this action, and when she saw that I am watching everything that is happening, she was really afraid and half-scared/half-aggressively asked why I am not sleeping. So.... quite interesting trip... Still remember it.
But that wasn't the only interesting railway trip in my life, I should say. Up until 2015 I was living in Ukraine and I had many other train trips which are not doable today as many things changed since then... One of those very specific trips is also a trip with a regional train from Slavytuch city to Chornobyl Nuclear power plant transiting Belarus. This trip is not possible to do anymore due to the war, the bridge/border is ruined.
Intresting story! I hope Ukraine is able to rebuild much of what's destroyed once the Russians are defeated
I am from Bucuresti Romania, i remember riding these trains back in 86 to Suceava, what fond memories.
Hii
At least there's no war going on in Moldova and that is what matters most.
I took the same train from Bucharest to Chisinau back in 2011. Very interesting journey, but the following train from Chisinau to Moscow was even more memorable. There was no border crossing check between Ukraine and Russia until we were about two hours inside Russia. Then the guards just jumped in from somewhere random. I wonder what would have happened, had I been deemed ineligible to enter Russia.
I've made two trips on the train Bucharest to Chisinau and back. I also had a customs check of my cabin on return leg by Moldovan customs. Simply said get up come out and made me sit with a family in another cabin for about an hour while they looked for something. I was in the cabin closest to exit and learned later its the cabin most often used by smugglers so it's nearly routine it gets checked on most trips. Also both end cabins on the carriages contain the big pin holding the wheel bogey in place, so if you don't want a rail worker coming into your cabin, lift up the carpet and pull a big pin out to change the wheels, get another cabin. Aside from that you know its a nostalgia train and it is what it is. Lucky you got the new engine, my trip the old shunting engine pulled us to the border.
They seem to throw whatever engine is available on. As you might be able to tell from the thumbnail they even had half of a 2TE10 and a TE33AC on the previous days departure :D
Bit worrying, though. You never know if they plant something ...
What a clean and welcoming train station - very nice.
Very nice, mange tak!
This brought back memories: In the Soviet Union, there used to be a samovar at one end of the carriage, and you could buy tea and cookies.
I had some time in Chisinau, about five years ago, and visited the station. It's really nice! At that time, there still were more departures through Ukraine. And then, of course, there were the mysterious trains to Transnistria, the breakaway part of Moldova. Bender is actually in that part.
That town plays a role in Swedish history, King Charles XIII stayed there from 1709 to 1713. Legend has it that the Swedes picked up the recipe for Ikea meatballs there from the Turks :)
What a fantastic adventure you had Simon! Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for watching!
100 percent would ride this train. Looks superb!
Nice video, thank you for this work!🙏
Glad you liked it!
Love the banter between you twos
We were on the border between CCCP/Finland 5 hours...1978
Years ago, I've rode a similar train altough not trough moldova. It was the route Caransebeș-Eforie Sud and we had a 5h delay. Since i have an obsession for trains (especially older eastern european ones), for me as a kid who lived in Germany it was a nice experience but for my parents it was just pain :D
Thank you for sharing the transition of gauges!
No problem! Its such a intresting thing to watch :D
4 hours?! That's insane!
Very interesting. Thank you.
Fascinating video of your train trip!
Glad you enjoyed it
Very interresting. Those old sleeper cars look so beautiful and cozy. I would love to travel on that route too one day.
its a great trip! Thanks for watching
I took the train from Bucharest to Chisinau 2 days ago. The Moldovan border officer refused my entry as I didn't have a hotel booking arranged. I got deported back to Romania via the 7am train. All this happened at 5am in pitch darkness in a cold winter morning. The scariest border crossing experience for me and I'm a seasoned traveller.
Oh wow thats a lot. Hope you managed to continue your travels somewhere despite of that road block
DO U have to have a hotel booked ?
No asked me of any booking. Just a quick passport check in the cabin
That trains are living history. blast from the past.
Very good video, like!
What an experience! :) I would like to travel on board of this train :) Thank fro great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
I have traveled to Chisinau several times, but always by air. I love trains and might consider this someday in the future.
Its an intresting expirence going by train for sure :D!
Back in the '80s the tracks were better maintained in Romania at least. In the present the railway company doesn't produce enough founds to repair or replace them, hence the low speed. It's a shame, I loved going to the seaside by train when I was a kid. Also the trip from Suceava to Timisoara has great sights to see.
Amazing changing trucks!
in the 90s and early 2000s, I used to go to my grandparents' house with this train. I have pictures of me as a baby in the sleeping car, it seems incredible that nothing has changed.
I wonder how long it will continute, as far as i know there are no replacement plans!
Great rude. I have traveled by night train in Ukraine long time ago, so yes, I would like to take such an interesting ride, especially at that price. Cool video 🙋♂️.
It's pretty good for the money 🎉🎉🎉 As a romanian, I also had some problems with these border controls... The train is known as having delays
Looks awesome. Hilsen.
Thanks!
The interior reminds me of the Soviet-era sleeper car I took from Tbilisi to Yerevan before they got new cars
i traveled with both car and train. with the train i didn't stay much at the border crossing, so i got into bucharest on time, but with the car i stayed for 2 and a half, almost 3 hours at the border crossing at albita-leusesti
Me and my girlfriend travelled this route from Bucharest to Chisinau in 2017. As I am a real railfan, I loved the ride. We however had a sort of equal experience as you mentioned, but for us it was on the Ukranian-Polish border. For this (whole round)trip it was a once in a lifetime experience that I enjoyed very much.
Its always fun and interesting traveling in this part of europe :D
4:44 Interesting - a Soviet outlet (compatible with most EU plugs) with 110V current 🤔. Anyway all modern chargers have no issue with that
Fedt - tak !
Fascinating journey very interesting.
Looks awesome, would love to take thst route
I love a bouncy train ride, it makes me sleep better than being safe at home in my own bed, believe it or not.
Suberb adventure can't believe you stay on the train as they change the boogies to fit the right railway gauge.
Europe's cheapest solo compartment (or 2 people) night train is P269 Helsinki-Kolari (14,5h, ~1060km) in Finland. 49 Euros.
That is also a very good contender!
Those stuffed croissants are great, we just started importing them here to America a few years back.
Have driven from the UK to Chişinău three times now - our last leg is from Brasov.
I did it once in a truck years ago & it was the time David Beckham was reported as earning £50,000 per week at Man Utd & i was delivering to a hospital in the centre of Chisinau.
Anyway the daughter of this doctor who was translating for me & basically in charge invited me to stay at there apartment & it was in 1 of those tenement blocks.
Anyway she told me what her father (doctor) earned a week & I worked it out that her father (doctor) would have to work 25 years to earn what DB earns in a week.
Also there was no mobile phone coverage im Moldova at that time & you could only get coverage in the main cities of Romanani at the time & even that was hit & miss.
To be honest it was a relief to get back to Romania & load textiles back to the UK as Moldovia was not up to Romania standards & at that time that was saying something but the people were great 👍.
Chishinau station is really suffering from Ukraine's war. Because a lot of trains was transit way through Ukraine to Russia, Bilorus etc.
I would have described it as Russia's war rather than Ukraines's.
2:12 - I'd love to welcome you, my friend, in our beautiful and picturesque country! It's injured now though... However, the wounds will heel! And we'll win this battle for freedom and democracy!
Wow, the carriages from mine past. Still in use in Ukraine, I think. Originally carriages like this were built in Germany (than DDR) for the Soviet railways. But AFAIK after 1991 some independent states (first of all Russia and Ukraine) adopted to built similar carriages.
Yes, Amendorfs still drive in Ukraine. Production of slightly different wagons, but also quite archaic
Tver factory used to produce something similar
@@yarem4uk.r
Ukraine also modernized Ammendorf cars, sleeping cars of the Azerbaijan Railways are Ammendorf modernized from Ukraine with air conditioning system and comfortable sleeping bed/seats.
Hi Simon, I will take the CFM night train from Bucharest to Chisinau next week. Can you perhaps give me a few tips/hints about Chisinau? Do you have experience with taxis there? Can you recommend a restaurant? Thank you and happy new year. Greetings Andreas
Have a fun trip! I didn't take taxis but just walked and had street food from various small shops, so I'm not much help unfortunately
The locomotive looks interesting.
Simon sir..Brilliant video..Absolutely marvelous✅.. 🕋👍👌👌
Many thanks!
@@Simon-Andersen 🕋🙏
I hope they will ride another 50 years
It is veeeeery slow ant takes an eternity, but hey: It is cheap, but cozy :)
Old School !
What tool do you use to produce the animated route graphics at 3:55? Trying to produce a short video of my Interrail journey this Spring and Summer...
I use a combination of Google earth studio and adobe after effects to make them :-)
I used this train, too - from Romania to Moldova, though. I visited my then-girlfriend this way. I didn't experience the border crossing or any other moment as particularily scary, but I think it's a matter of experience. This wasn't exactly my first brush with the post-Soviet world. If it was your (the chanell owner's) first one, many things are unfamiliar and this can be tantamount to scary, yes.
I've been to a few post soviet countries now, but haven't quite been held back for 4 hours before 😆
@@Simon-Andersen I don't remember how much time it took because it was in the middle of the night. I was woken up by the the border policeman (man? I think it was a woman in my case) to have a stamp put in my pass and then to go to sleep again. And that was all I experienced consciously.
Indeed, if I had to travel the Bucaresti-Chisinau route, I'd opt for this overnight train, with the proviso that I had a bottle of Merlot to aid sleeping. On question - what was the quality of the bed and linen like? Did the attendant prepare the bed for you?
Merlot will deffo help mitigate some of the shaking from the train. The bedding is old but clean, you have to prepare the bed yourself :-)
Try Zagreb-Budapest and you'll see what's an adventure :D
Im a new subscriber. Greetings from Port Saint Lucie , Florida ! I also subscribe to Roman's Milwaukee Roads. He films trains in Wisconsin usa, beautiful scenes.
Lindo passeio. Romenia/Moldávia devem ser os últimos lugares seguros para se passear pela Europa, sendo um turista comum. Esses trens foram muito bem feitos e são bonitos. Se houvessem roteiros e descrições em português/espanhol iriam atrair muitos turistas da América Latina.
You'll be able to understand in Spanish as the languages are not that far apart. Not sure about Portuguese...
I ride this journey in 2008 i liked it 😊
As a person that likes old trains and is fascinatie in the soviet era i wanna try it. But yeah 4 hour delay is not very nice
Dear Simon, if yu want to have a scary experience and wait 3h on the border, take the BDZ from Sofia to Bucharest, it's even more unforgetable experience ! Since I saw the kid's corner in Helsinki-Tampere train in your video, I think Finland (and Nordics in general) is on another planet...
I love a Balkan train trip! I wanna come back to Bulgaria and record some vidoes at some point :-)
It was daily travel, but due to the people choose to travel by bus directly to Enter into Romania and they can take the Romanian train to travel down to Bucharest.the train still traveling to Bucharest but only 2 time a week
Brilliant video! I have a question about online ticket on CFM's site. After paying for the reservation, I received a message on my e-mail with the details of my ticket for the trip. Is it enough to print this message and show it to the train crew?
Yes or you can show it on your phone. It will be exchaged for a physical ticket onboard or when you board :-)
@@Simon-Andersen thanks for reply
Our Indian trains also have ac coaches Like this Train.
1st ac looks the same like the best coach on this train it is expensive for middle class
2nd ac is a little cheap it does not have doors tolock instead it has curtains in place of doors which could be slided for privacy
Then comes 3rd ac for middle class it is completely open
Old school and this was carried between Denmark to West Germany Padborg & Rødby Eisenbahnfahre Puttgarden former East Germany German Democratic Republic which was Gedser Eisenbahnfahre Rostock Warnemünde Saßnitz before the Schengen treaty Denmark and the reunified Germany. Regarding the shunter locomotive Chme 3, which is a Czechoslovakian former Soviet Union diesel electric locomotive, it's derived from the American Alco RS-1 RSD-1 United States to the former Soviet Union during WW II. Same way as how the Nordic Countries Denmark Norway and Sweden got the Nohab locomotive which your National operator DSB. MY class locomotive is derived from the F7 EMD locomotive 1949-1953.
The ChME3 is not derived from Alco RS-1, maybe you would to say TEM2 which is very similar with Alco, but with different bogies which shares with TE3 and M62 locomotives.
While the 1435mm gauge ChME3 is known as T669.
@gabrielarellano4696 from the outside it looks like an Alco RS-1 RSD-1 because of the cab position that's why I keep thinking of it
These Ammendorf coaches didn't run into West Germany. The USSR had special European loading gauge coaches for running into western Europe. Also, for the love of all readers, structure your sentences properly and don't just create a word salad.
@@bahnspotterEU
For West Germany including the rest of Europe, VEB Görlitz made WLABm sleeping cars for SZD and RZD that have RIC loading gauge and could travel from the former Soviet Union to Paris, Rome or other Western European cities, but sometimes they used also to Tehran service.
@@gabrielarellano4696 I know, I was referring to those
This is not a Soviet wagon, but an East German wagon from Amendorf (GDR), made for the USSR
East Germany was a Soviet country
I would never ride the train. The border experience was too much, the ride was long and uncomfortable, and I am impressed that you endured it all so easily. Above my pay scale.
Pleacă trenul, unde esti? Chișinău, București!
Best wishes
very nice train station. how comfy are the seats on the sleeper train?
There are no seats, only sleeper cabins where you can sit on the bed when not sleeping on it :-)
@@Simon-Andersen How comfy is the bed? thank you.
Very nice,
Thanks ☺️
We, Moldovans , we want Re-Unification with Romania,
our historical motherland
Curious question - why do you define this as Soviet? Mostly curious about the "last soviet". Is it because of the carriages?
carriages indeed. Old unrefurbished Ammendorf that still are very common further east, but these are the last ones that travel into a EU country
Its not the last one, still many to come :)
My last trip with this classic was around 1991 Leningrad-Helsinki.I don´t miss that train at all :)
I did ride this train and drank vodka with the conductor. I loved the ride!!
Sounds like you had a great trip!
I'm going to Moldova this November, little research is better😅.
I hope you have a good trip!
Rest in peace, Moldova
Whaaaa.... ??!!! They actually change the wheels to meet the next gage rail tracks??!! That is something. 👍
Its very cool and something that does not happen that much anymore
@@Simon-Andersen So, that's something like what they do with the train in Spain?
@@nivardofloresperez1169what service do you mean exactly? Because currently the only international services from spain are high speed or they run on dual gauge lines (to my knowledge)
@@CreatorPolar Yep, I know it sounds weird, but I 'm sure I saw it here in CZcams, I'll have to look for it.
@@CreatorPolar czcams.com/video/qwNl-g_91GE/video.html This is how they change the gauge "Automatically" in the Spanish Talgo.
I went to the train station a few times lately and couldn't understand why train 401 had such long delays. Got my answer.
We'll see in a few years if the busses start being at capacity :D
Are the power outlets really 110 volt DC, as the signs at 4:44 seem to say? But still accept normal European (AC) plugs? That would immediately blow up your device...
They didn't work at all during my trip so I unfortunately don't know
Yes, I would ride this train if only for the retro experience.
10:21 the bus is much better believe me, in the last 3 years im doing the trip between bucharest to chishinau via bus
mostly of the trips are done by new minibuses which have wifi and super modern seats (with even a charger)
the road in Moldova are disaster but in Romania they are great and you can sleep without any issuies
the customs mostly same, the border control always in shock why a israeli guy doing on moldovian-romanian border and mostly dont bother me
and finally the price, 30 euros for the bus ride comparing to 49 euros for the train
so yeah, the bus is much better choice, they also handle a kind of ticket which for each 5 ride the sixth is free, and on each ride they stamp the card until you get the free ride :)
110 V Sockets? In Europe? So strange.
Wonder if the tracks take into account seismic activity on that route?
I have no idea, but probably not, i think they are just old and in need of replacement
I went from Moscow to Petrozavodsk (about 800 kilometers) for 3000 rubles (somewhere 30-35 euros at that moment). I had a new double-decker train made in Russia. So its bot cheapest in Europe lol
Great value as you say but I would get a rental car, Romania is easy to drive around, was there last year and I drove around 3000km within that country, unsure about the Moldovan roads but suspect they are more like their rail lines, a bit rough.
I would not drive in Romania. Poor roads, potholes and unlighted horse wagons on the road in dark villages.
@@PeterNGloor ah stop it! Dude/Lady just wrote that they (already) drove 3000 km in Romania and it was ‘easy to drive around’ so what is the aim of your advice?
Still You will find unlightned horse-wagons in Roumania, but, the roads improved quite a lot…travelling thousands of kilometres in Roumania and hundreds in Moldova & Transnistria
@@stephandrube8658 yeah, on rural tracks carting off hay
I have had traveled this train after leaving ukraine in 2022. Ive joked that it saw the stalins grandmother. 10 hours at the station after customs unabled to get out or do something due to cigarets smugglers. And yes, the customs disassembled halve a train car and found them in the toilet and a last cabin. Fortunately an old moldovan lady ,who travels this trains a lot, explained that smugglers always do that as cigarets contraband is as profitable as drugs and we shall not worry about it. As a cherry on top there was a heavy drunk italian war journalist who, considering the small, haven't had a shower for a week and, how you say that, did an unnecessary compliments to girls 1/3 of his age. Not the best experience but far far less scary than traveling ukraine that year.
Seems like this train really can produce a lot of lets call them "interesting" expireinces! Thanks for sharing :D
Wow
Ich war sowohl in Chisinau als auch in Bukarest...aber mit dem Auto 🚙
I have done this journey twice and disagree about the comfort; yes the carriages are old and the ride is a little lively, but ultimately this makes it probably one of the comfiest sleeper trains I have ever been on (being gently rocked to sleep is very pleasant, and the price of the beer on board can not be faulted!) I recomend it very much but it is better in the Moldova to Romania direction than the other way.
I deffo agree on the beer price, but yeah the timings are much better in one direction than the other which is unfortunate
Of course the train restaurant has a kitchen. They sell stuff like grilled sausages and fried eggs plus a salad.
Antes que ir por las carreteras rumanas no me lo pienso dos veces.
Yes.
Am I reading that right, do those power outlets provide 110V? That's strange. Is it because the loco is American?
You are reading that right, but i dont know if the outlets actually are 110V. I did not try unfortunatly