Hidden Rail Gems: Oravița to Anina, 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 Anina and Oravița in Romania.

The Oravița-Anina railway line

Besides the Adjud to Miercurea Ciuc railway line that I highlighted in the previous article about hidden rail gems in Europe, there’s another relatively unknown train ride in Romania that I really love.

This particular railway line, the Oravița–Anina Railway, takes a bit more effort to reach, but it’s well worth it if you ever find yourself in the area.

The Oravița–Anina railway line is located in the Banat region of south-western Romania, near the border with Serbia.

It’s a short railway line of just under 34 kilometres (21 miles), but the entire ride is a delight from start to finish, and thanks to the leisurely pace of the train, you have plenty of time to take it all in.

The Semmering of the Banat

The Oravița–Anina Railway is often called the Semmering of the Banat, a nod to Austria’s famous Semmering Railway that connects Vienna with Graz and holds the distinction of being the world’s first mountain railway.

Just like the Austrian Semmering railway line, the Romanian version also features plenty of bridges and tunnels.

In fact, the railway line has 14 tunnels over a total length of 2,084 metres (6,837 feet) and 10 viaducts with a length of 843 metres (2,766 feet).

The Oravița–Anina Railway, inaugurated in 1863, was the fourth railway ever built in Romania, but the first to cross mountainous terrain.

It’s a combination of this old infrastructure and beautiful scenery that makes a ride on this railway line so special.

Some impressions of the Oravița-Anina Railway

It was a cold, snowy winter day when I took a train across this railway line.

I started my journey in Anina and, much to my surprise and delight, discovered I was the only passenger on the train.

The train carriages, pulled by a diesel locomotive, were fitted with old-fashioned wooden benches that added to the somewhat nostalgic charm of the ride.

During the journey, the train passes through mountainous terrain, including a high plateau and a canyon.

From the window, you can also admire many abandoned factories and mines, which at times appear rather dystopian.

The mines around Anina were actually the reason this railway line was built in the first place, as freight was always more important than passenger transport here.

Below you can see a couple of video impressions from my ride on the Oravița-Anina Railway.

Walkthrough of the train. ©AndyBTravels

Departure from Anina. ©AndyBTravels

Passing by an abandoned mine. ©AndyBTravels

At times, the train ride is excruciatingly slow. ©AndyBTravels

Passing through a series of tunnels. ©AndyBTravels

One of the impressive railway viaducts. ©AndyBTravels

Passing by a shepherd and his flock of sheep on the high plateau. ©AndyBTravels

Getting there

The Oravița-Anina Railway is not connected to the rest of Romania’s passenger rail network.

The nearest railhead is in the city of Reșița, from where you’ll need to take a bus or taxi to Anina, which is the most convenient starting point if travelling by public transport.

Conclusion

Known as the Semmering of the Banat, the Oravița-Anina Railway is not only one of Romania’s most spectacular lines but also one of the most scenic in Europe.

The downside of taking a train across the Semmering of the Banat is that this Romanian railway line is hard to reach, as it’s not connected to the rest of the country’s railway network.