CFR Calatori train (photo Vlad Barza)
On January 9, the “Muntenia” Budapest – Bucharest train took more than 26 hours, instead of 16 hours, although it had entered the country less than two hours late. CFR Călători explained that the frost was also to blame, two locomotives broke down and maneuvering actions took time. It was one of the biggest rail delays in recent years.
More than 500 minutes of delay were added in the country
The IR 79 train left for Budapest at 3:10 p.m., at Curtici it entered the country 78 minutes late and should have arrived in Bucharest at 8:23 a.m. the next day, via Arad – Timișoara – Craiova.
However, it arrived in the evening, at 18.44, 621 minutes late, i.e. 10 hours and 21 minutes. The first locomotive broke down at Vinga – 25 km from Arad – and was recently modernized, through PNRR funds, and the relief one arrived after almost five hours.
CFR Călători explains in a press release that “the major delay of the IR 79 train on 08/09/01/2026 was caused by a malfunction both of the towing locomotive of the IR 79 train, as well as of the one originally sent to replace it, as well as due to the shunting action in the traffic on the public railway infrastructure”.
The delay was also caused by the late arrival of the train from Hungary, due to the weather conditions in the neighboring country, but also by the restrictions and speed limitations imposed on the railway infrastructure, by CFR SA, the operator says.
CFR Călători also explains the fact that the locomotives would have broken down due to the cold and claims that after this incident the necessary adjustments were made, so that the technical problem would not occur again.
“The malfunctions of the locomotives were generated by a technical problem of the adjustment of the minimum flow of oil and its viscosity (directly influenced by adverse weather conditions), necessary for the operation of the transformer. Currently, this technical problem has been overcome by the adjustment of the flow which, unfortunately, previously could not be simulated until that moment, not being outside temperatures significantly below the freezing point.”
CFR Călători promises more spare diesel locomotives and additional checks
The operator also promises several measures: provision of spare diesel locomotives, additional preparation of rolling stock for operation in winter conditions and additional checks of trains before departure.
CFR Călători also says that it is in contact with the repair companies that have modernized the rolling stock through the PNRR program and that ensure preventive and corrective maintenance, as in the case of the international train IR 79 Budapest – Bucharest North.
