Hidden Rail Gems: Adjud to Miercurea Ciuc, Romania

In this new series on hidden rail gems, I will introduce you to a relatively unknown yet highly scenic train ride. Today, let’s explore the railway line between Adjud and Miercurea Ciuc in Romania.

The Adjud-Miercurea Ciuc railway line

Romania has multiple railway lines crossing the spine of the Carpathian Mountains, with the Brașov to Bucharest route being the busiest.

Avid rail travellers may wish to explore other lines across the Carpathians, and my personal favourite is the railway route between Adjud and Miercurea Ciuc.

As part of #AllTheLinesEurope, where I aim to travel on every railway line in Europe with scheduled passenger services, I took a train across this stunning route and was mightily impressed by the fantastic views.

Adjud station

I began the trip at the communist-era station of Adjud, an important junction station on the Bucharest to Suceava mainline.

From here, only a handful of daily trains make the journey across the Carpathians to Miercurea Ciuc in the Transylvania region.

To be precise, three excruciatingly slow regional trains (R) run daily in each direction along the Adjud-Miercurea Ciuc railway line, stopping at every station en route, along with one faster and more comfortable InterRegio (IR) train, which traverses this line as part of its long cross-country route between Iași and Brașov.

All these trains are operated by CFR, Romania’s national railway company.

Travelling west

On the eastern side of the Carpathains, the Adjud to Miercurea Ciuc railway line basically follows the course of the Trotuș River.

The railway line crosses the river numerous times, offering great views across the valley.

The plain around Adjud gradually gives way to rolling hills and Carpathian foothills, with the Trotuș River valley narrowing with each passing mile.

Stations such as Comănești and Ghimeș (which once served as the border station of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) are certainly impressive, given the relatively small communities they serve and the once-greater significance of the railway line, which was much more important in the past.

Mountain views

Throughout the ride, you can enjoy stunning views of the Carpathian Mountains, as well as rural valleys and villages.

At times, the landscape was almost as reminiscent of Switzerland as it was of Romania.

Perhaps the biggest highlight is the descent down the western side of the Carpathian Mountains, roughly between Livezi Ciuc and the railway junction of Siculeni, down in the valley.

Although the views alternate between the left and right sides throughout the journey, you’ll definitely want to sit on the left-hand side as the train descends the mountains.

On a clear day, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the entire valley stretching for many miles.

View from the Adjud-Miercurea Ciuc train. ©AndyBTravels

The sweeping views from the train on the stretch between Livezi Ciuc and Siculeni. ©AndyBTravels

Arrival in Miercurea Ciuc

At Siculeni, the train joins the eastern Transylvanian mainline, which it follows for a few miles south to Miercurea Ciuc.

Miercurea Ciuc is a Hungarian-majority city in Transylvania and an important station.

From here, you can catch trains south to Brașov or north-west towards Toplița, Cluj-Napoca, and eventually Budapest.

For me, it marked the end of a beautiful train journey, which I highly recommend to everyone.