CFM Passenger Rail
International Passenger Rail · Calea Ferata din Moldova
2 lines · 14 stations · 9 interchanges
Every line drawn through its stations. Tap a line in the legend to hide or show it.
Lines
Service information checked . Check the operator before travel because schedules can change at short notice.
Quick facts
- Current network
- Regular passenger service is limited. The catalog shows the currently documented trains to Iași-Socola and Bucharest rather than Moldova's larger historical network.
- Border
- Both routes cross the Romanian border at Ungheni. Passport controls and the change between broad and standard gauge make the border stop much longer than an ordinary station call.
- Booking
- Use CFM for departures from Moldova and CFR Călători for the Romanian portion. Confirm the operating day before arranging a connection.
Mike’s notes
Moldova still has a large rail map, but only a small part of it carries regular passenger trains in 2026. The current useful corridor runs west from Chișinău through Strășeni, Călărași, and Cornești to Ungheni. From there, trains cross into Romania for Iași-Socola or continue overnight to Bucharest.
The Chișinău to Iași-Socola train runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday under the 2026 CFM timetable. Socola is outside central Iași, so the arrival still requires a local transfer. The train uses broad-gauge equipment through the border corridor.
The Prietenia night train links Chișinău with București Nord. It runs through Iași, Pașcani, Roman, Bacău, Focșani, Buzău, and Ploiești. The long stop at Ungheni covers border procedures and the gauge change. This makes the train much slower than the map distance suggests, but it avoids an overnight bus and arrives at the main station in Bucharest.
Tickets and operating days
Check CFM and CFR Călători before committing to the trip. Moldova's passenger timetable has changed repeatedly, and a route shown on an old national railway map may not have a current train. CFM sells the international routes it is operating, while CFR handles the Romanian train numbers used beyond the border.
The Iași-Socola service has a limited weekly schedule. The Bucharest train is the more substantial international service, with sleeping accommodation and a long overnight run. Border procedures are part of the timetable, but passport checks can still add delay.
On the train
The two services use different equipment. The Iași train is a short cross-border operation. Prietenia uses sleeping cars and changes bogies at Ungheni because Moldova and Romania use different track gauges. Accessibility information is thin, and neither the lengthy gauge-change stop nor the older coaches should be assumed to provide level boarding. Confirm assistance directly with the operator.
Sources: CFM, CFM's 2026 Iași-Socola operating notice, and CFR Călători's official journey planner.