The Budapest - Bucharest Sleeper Train has a Morning Surprise...
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- Опубліковано 31 бер 2023
- A sleeper train with views? You bet! Join me on an overnight trip from Budapest, Hungary to Bucharest, Romania and be ready for unexpected Romanian scenery in the morning :)
Travel date: 9th - 10th March 2023.
Budapest Departure: 19:10
Bucharest Arrival: 11:19 the following morning
Intercity 473 ISTER, Car 422, Seat 11
£125 for single occupancy cabin
Maps courtesy of Google Maps
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
('Suavemente' by Alysha Sheldon)
Hi, I’m Steve, a travel reviewer from Scotland. Join me on my adventures as I discover my own country, often visiting places for the first time, so hopefully it's as much of an eye-opener for you as it is for me! Don't expect expert opinion, just a very honest journey of discovery. Sometimes featuring my intrepid sidekick Alicja, sometimes featuring adventures beyond the borders of Scotland. Enjoy!
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#BudapestBucharest #SleeperTrain #SteveMarsh
The romanian train drivers have to use the whistle at every railway crossing and at every bridge longer than 20 meters. So they have to use the horn quite often. Greetings from romanian CFR train engineer
Thanks so much for the explanation!
What's the deal behind that rational? Safety?
@@Manawatu_Al2844 Pretty much, yeah. A lot of rail crossings in Romania have no barriers to speak of and quite a few don't even have a bell/light indicator for incoming trains.
yes it is meant for safety but if you look on the window u see that there was bad fog, and they will use the horn for extra time... to make sure every car it is hearing them
@@iuliandragomir1 In Japan we don't do this at every station at all. Sometimes yes, but it is not required unless there is a special reason for it (what is quite often I have to admit but not all the time)
Romania is a heaven for train enjoyers cus of it's old school rails with joints that make the famous clicking sound, still being able to find cars with fully lowerable windows and the gorgeous mountain passes with incredible scenery. Trains in other places are fast, silent and comfortable but incredibly boring. Very nice videos man, hope you enjoyed your stay here.
I just took this train last night. I was sharing with a nice Romanian lady. The police checks on the Hungarian and Romanian side were quite intimidating. I managed to get a good sleep though using my earplugs to block out the noise of the horn and all the rattles in the room. Around 10.30am the engine broke down and we were stuck in the middle of nowhere for 2 hours. Some locals got off and walked through the grass.. those of us on the train managed to see the funny side of it all. I enjoyed the journey overall 🇷🇴
What an adventure! I think I'd have liked the breakdown for the video, would be really interesting, I'm imagining everyone walking through the grass :D
My moment of fame being in a Steve Marsh video at around 8:57-9:04 in the white shirt! Great to meet you and yes my first time in Romania too! Their train drivers do love playing with the horn control, I can understand where you got those red eyes from! Thanks
Haha that was a fun trip Simon and you were so right about the Romanian drivers :D
@@steve-marsh I did get my moment of fame so thank you!
@@simonpilk What a coincidence to meet up with Steve Simon 😃 Hope you had a good trip
@@lynnb_and_ky_springer_spaniel indeed. I had never met him but had watched many of his travel videos. When I got on the train I was in the berth next door and heard his ‘dulcet tones’ and when he came into the corridor just before we left I said to him ‘Steve from You Tube!’ And he smiled. But yes made me smile!
Ok the 9:30 one was excessive haha, but on a more serious note, there is a requirement for the train drivers in Romania to honk whenever they pass by a station in which they don't stop, just to assure the person in charge there that they are awake and well.
Welcome to my country! They use the horn because of the fog and crossings espeacilly on the countrytside. In Brasov they change the locomotive because they were using diesel ones before, and they change it to electric.
Good information!
Cheers!
Yes that train EN473 is Hungarian electric to Curtici, CFR electric locomotive to Simeria, CFR diesel Simeria - Brasov and finally electric locomotive from Brasov to Bucharest Gara Nord. It was a foggy morning yes on the diesel section. I have to admit I also had the window open but slept much better than Steve!
@@simonpilk This a temporary situation because of the construction works going on on Paneuropean Corridor IV. From Simeria the "normal" route would be via Alba Iulia-Blaj-Mediaș-Sighișoara-Brașov, but because Sighișoara-Brașov is all dug up, the train runs after Vințu via Sibiu-Făgăraș, a secondary unelectrified route.
@@catalinmuresan3230 the route via Sibiu is interesting as of course the train is hauled by a CFR 64 GM locomotive and then the change back to electric at Brasov. I visited Romania for the first time in March 23 and it was very interesting, the railways are very ‘real’ as we say in UK. I enjoyed it and your food is often wonderful!
the horn and the face. made me smile.
Visited Bucharest in 2009 for Steaua v Motherwell, Europa league qualifier. Our hotel was Ibis Gara de Nord, just beside the station obviously. Beautiful city.
you can come anytime for a mini-vacation or citybreak in Bucharest. From 2009 to today there have been many changes. You're welcome😉😎
Awesome once again Steve. That scene where the train horn was blowing was a classic, just for the look on your face! 😅 The Carpathian Mountains look incredible mind you. A stunning part of Europe 👍
Mate I barely slept at all despite the bed being very comfy :D I was a bit blown away by that scenery in the morning, and a lot nicer than I managed to capture on camera!
@@mihaelafilipescu5818
You and your daughter are so brave . To take such a trip and leave your home must be such a wrench. I hope you are both happier now . ❤️
@@steve-marsh you asked what are the origins of Hungarian language. Hungarian language has roots in Turkic languages: ua-cam.com/video/Er1--vdE6KY/v-deo.html
Your face on that sleeper with the horn blowing, priceless, sorry 😂. Fantastic filming, more industrial than I was expecting, but those mountains ❤
Oh Janine I didn't sleep much that night! :D
This is one of my favourite train journeys. I've gone from Paris to Bucharest and back several times, and once from Bucharest to Istanbul last September; I definitely want to do the Bucharest-Chisinau route some day. Taking the Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest section several times over the past ten years or so, I've seen how rural Romania is changing. More cars, fewer goats and donkeys, new houses being built and old ones left to fall down. Better for the residents of course, but it's sad to see traditional rural life disappearing.
Can you tell me what the best site is to use? I’m wanting to do the Budapest/Bucharest route in a single sleeper.
I'm doing Vienna- Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul this fall! It's my first trip to Europe. Any advice??
@@kevinshane85 Be as autonomous as you can on the trains - bring your own food and drink, especially water, your own toilet paper. Expect delays the further east you go - last time I took the Vienna-Bucharest overnight train it was three hours late, when I took the Bucharest-Istanbul overnight train last year it was six hours late. Best not to count on making connections the same day. Plan to stop overnight (at least) in Bucharest. As far as things to do on your trip, only you know what interests you! Have a great time -
Thank you! This is the first mention of toilet paper I have come across and something I hadn't thought of. Priceless information! haha@@paristen8556
The snow covered mountains were beautiful!
A totally unexpected treat!
Once again, great video Steve! The scenery in Romania was just spectacular!
So beautiful I spent some more time there on the way home!
@@steve-marsh thankfully Romania recovered Transylvania from the Austro-Hungarian empire. Romanians were treated very badly. Not allowed to live in cities, banned from many professions, reduced to slaves on Hungarian plantations until the 1918 liberation 😢
Fantastic video as always Steve!
This was such an adventure Steve, Thanks so very much.
Yet another fascinating video, Steve..... thanks again for your very interesting journeys! :)
Brilliant! Nice, clean train, clean station!
Just watched your Skye tour, beautiful 👍👍
Beautiful!❤
Single rooms are great, especially when your on the train for so long
I had forgotten just how spectacular the Romanian scenery is. Great video 2x 👍
Cheers! Aye, it's a great treat to have a too to yourself, I'd argue it's a necessity on a journey of that length :)
@@steve-marsh It is 😘👌
Pretty mountains 😊
A fantastic video. Thank you so much for uploading this
Thanks so much or coming along !
Enjoyed your journey Steve , looks a great adventure .
Cheers Roy! It'll just get more interesting the further east I go!
Thanks for the video, as the Kids get older Eastern Europe is on the list. A friend went to Romania last summer raved how nice and inexpensive everything was
It's a cracking place, wish I'd had more time there, but I definitely preferred it out of Bucharest. There will be a video soon on my trip to the hills :)
Another cracking video Steve. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Jim! Such an enjoyable trip this one!
Steve, I love your videos. You are always so upbeat and down to earth, you love things to have character rather than be shiny and new, and you have a genuine openness to other cultures. You are by far and a way my favourite UA-cam travel vlogger. Just wanted to share the love.
Another great little video, thanks for sharing Steve
Glad you enjoyed it Stuart!
Excellent video Steve, looking forward to the next ones, all the best
Cheers Bryan!
What an adventurous trip Steve. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for coming along Phil!
Thanks for such a great video the scenery was amazing.
I wasn't expecting it to be so beautiful in the morning!
Hi Steve! Great video! Greetings from Sweden! I am a french-swede-romanian, cool to see this vlog!
Cheers Steve
Another great video.
Thanks Leo!
Great video .... we enjoy your train journey vids,,,,thank you!
Thanks Ian!
Have a good night sleep and have a good journey and thanks for showing us around Budapest and nice to see some trains station thanks
Thanks Elaine! Have a lovely weekend :)
I absolutely loved this. What an adventure and I'm looking forward to the Moldava leg. Loving the little previews at the end of the videos too.
Cheers Tim mate! Totally recommend this one (and the next to Chisinau) You and Mrs TT would love it!
2 cities I would love to visit one day. Another fabulous video Steve and as ever well executed. All the best.
Cheers David! I do love sleepers but they are very tricky to film!
You go on the best journeys Steve the mountains looked absolutely incredible 👍
Totally unexpected! And so much better than I could capture on my phone!
Very interesting Steve.....looking forward to the next instalment !
Cheers John! The adventure gets more interesting...
Yet another cracking video Steve, keep em coming.
That horn, my goodness!
Very much looking forward to seeing Moldova on your next video. Its somewhere I always wanted to go to myself and find it fascinating. Good luck on the next train.
Cheers mate! Really impressed with Chisinau (and the train to get there!)
great video - that cabin looked quite cosy
It's always a luxury I appreciate being in a wee solo cabin :)
Awesome! The Carpathian Mountains, wow! Can't wait to see next weeks episode.
Thanks Susan, the scenery won't be as nice but the train will be bonkers :D
Thank you, Steve! Train is my favorite mode of travel--all inconviniences inluded. Love it!❤
Same! :)
Great Video As Always Steve
Cheers Paul!
Another fantastic post Steve
Thanks Justin!
Another great video...I find myself waiting for the notifications from you weekly . That's a good thing.😊
Thanks so much Sue :)
Reminds me of... 'The Lady vanishes".... All sleepers do ! Thanks Steve, Great video, as always.
Super cool! In 2 days I'm doing this route the same way as you did, with the same trains😊
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your travels to places most of us will never get to see.
Thanks for coming along Cindy!
Hi im new. This is great! I've watched a few of your videos the last couple of days. Your videos are fully informative and spontaneous!
Well Steve your certainly getting around in Europe, beautiful station in Budapest, train cabin is adequate as long as you get some sleep.
I like the train horn alarm call, Nice mountain scenery in Romania, what another great train trip you have showed us is possible.
All the Best.
Those mountains are part of the two-thousand-year-old Hun-Hungarian empire. Was kidnapped in 1920 by the then emerging Romanian state with British and French help!
Brilliant steve love your videos always enjoyable
Cheers Brian! :)
Love your videos!
the scene with the horn and your face - elite! Thanks for the content again Steve
Cheers Nick. Summed up my night perfectly :D
Nice memories... I made the same trip the other way round last year, taking some time on the way. Thank you for reminding how great the trip was, and enjoy the next train ;-)
So glad you've had the pleasure of this fantastic route! Thanks for coming along again :)
despite the night, the scenery has been amazing, such a beautiful view!!
It was so worth it Laura :)
good one, looking forward to the next one:)
Cheers, it'll be an adventure :D
Fun video. Scenery is pretty. Train Looks pretty bare bones to me. Bucharest is beautiful! Looking forward to your next video!!
Thanks Patricia! Unfortunately the lack of sleep meant I didn't end up seeing much of Bucharest, I was wandering about like a bit of a zombie, but I'll pop a short few clips at the start of next weeks video :)
Great Video
Cheers Chris!
Woww, what a great journey mate.
Absolutely enjoyed it.
Being a rail traveller myserlf and also having my own UA-cam channel on this topic.
Travelled all the active Romanian passenger lines, which I am proud of travelling in my home country.
Anyways, BIG Like for your video and wish you safe travelling.
Cheers,
Patrick
Thanks so much Patrick! Will check out your channel :)
My wife and I have watched quite a few of your videos in the past 24 hours! You’ve given us some good ideas for future holiday plans - including Budapest. You’re a great presenter. Cheers.
Hey really appreciate it guys!
Putting Everything aside in this journey.
Such Romance
Beautiful video Steve.
Thanks so much Paul!
another fun one Steve .. looking forward to Bucharest!
Thanks Ann! Bucharest will be short due to tiredness :D
@@steve-marsh Well, I want you to know how much I appreciate all your tours of Eastern Europe a place which has always been a mystery to me but which many of my NYC friends families came from!
Yeh its a great ride, I did this when I first moved to Romania in 2016; London to Paris, to Munich to Budapest. Was winter and Keleti was freezing but there is a little first class lounge that is fairly spartan but it was warm and comfy. Back then the Ister had a food car attached and you could get dinner and breakfast in the morning. Great ride through the Bucegi Mountains and it was snowing and had coffee with the conductor in his cabin after he invited me in. It is a pity its at night but from the early morning you catch the most beautiful part of the whole ride which is going up from Brasov into the mountains and down. Nice 👍👍
Fab video as always! I love overnight trains although have only done a couple. I did the Bucharest - Chisinau one a few weeks ago and my god what an experience 😄
Haha glad you've had the pleasure mate, fantastic!
A good or bad experience??😅
@@Tip_Top it was a good experience but like stepping back in time!
@@jackvoda4649 that's how I feel about Bulgaria and that's why I love it. I'm not cut out for the modern world. Bucharest to Chisinau is on my list!
Wow, how little I know about anything east of Germany and Austria. Very enlightening and surprising scenery. The mountains! Amazing. Another good job.
Cheers! Aye that morning scenery sure was an unexpected surprise!
absolutely. Transsylvania, with the cities of Brasov, Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca, is one of the most touristy area of Romania, and you can see why, with as much visitors as Bucharest itself (which is a wild city indeed) and to a lesser extent the Black Sea resorts near Constanta. Those cities I mentioned are also very nice to visit, with lots of monuments and history in them.
Well I really admire you for going to places I would be nervous about going to, or would not consider. Thanks for the video Steve. I love the channel.
Oh wait for the next one Richard :D
Thanks Steve 😊
Cheers for coming along Peter!
Great video Steve - i have just found your channel and will continue to watch more of your journey - Brasov station brought back memories - the last time I was there was 9/11/2001.
Anyway great video and I look forward to more .
Mark
Thanks so much Mark!
A great watch fella, really enjoyed that, always look here on YT for train journeys of various natures, always fancied taking a journey on one of those old trains that you sit right at the back and see the track, like the old western films.
Just getting a catch up on yur uploads but massive Thanks again.
Cheers.
You'll need to shove me out the way, my favourite spot too! :D
@@steve-marsh Get a big pic made up of it for yur wall 🤔
another great video, thanks steve. brian d.
Cheers Brian!
A strange journey from darkness to the stunning scenery the following morning and well done on getting the footage through those dirty windows...looking forward to seeing the rest of your adventure...Best wishes
Thanks Andy! It only gets more 'interesting' :)
A very good Tuesday evening buddy from Alan in Lowestoft awesome video buddy
Utterly epic Steve edge of the seat stuff looking forward to the next video sir
Cheers Paul! It sure will get more interesting next week :D
Just found your channel and really enjoying it, keep up the good work Steve, cheers from Cyprus.
Thanks so much Robert, welcome aboard!
Loved the ride👍😎
Thanks Darryl!
Thanks for your advice on this trip! We ended up going with a double cabin and it was pretty good!
Thanks for this.. as always an interesting journey. And a reminder of just how nice that bit through the Carpathians is. Ive done this trip several times in both directions (istanbul to/from UK and istambul to/from Berlin) good memories...
I was blown away by it - I knew Romania would be beautiful but for some reason I just didn't expect the scale of the mountains!
Some scenery that. I'm really enjoying these train journey vlogs. Love the atmosphere in train stations. It always takes me back to Edinburgh Waverley in the 80's when most weekends where spent on trains heading to football. It is the only way to travel isn't it. Your giving me too many ideas for next year's holiday. Going to have to think hard and make a plan.👍😁
Cheers Michael! Aye, these must be my favourites to travel on (and to film!) Need to find some more obscure ones :)
@@steve-marsh definitely. Obscure is good, just don't get off the train!!!!!
That stoic, resigned look on your face when the horn was blaring was priceless. 😳
Thanks for the very informative video! I'm planning on taking in a few weeks the same train from Budapest to Bucharest and wanted to know what to expect.
Have a fantastic trip !
@@steve-marsh Thank you, Sir!
Another great video Steve! I loved the haunted look on your face when the train horn sounded continuously!
Summed it up :D
Great vlog Steve...and yes, Czech and Hungarian languages were very difficult for me when there...happily so many people speak English in Prague, Budapest was harder, not nearly as many people speak English and yes, the further East you go, the more you feel like a SPY..........can't wait to see more of this trip!
Cheers Jon! Aye the adventures sure get more interesting the further east you go!
Those mountains are something!
And even better in real life! (better than I could capture on phone) :)
Look forward to hearing what you think of Bucharest….I’ve been to both Budapest and Bucharest and have a clear favourite….. will await your next video 😊. I’m around your area just after Easter, en route to a couple of weeks exploring the Shetland Islands.
Oh I was going to say, but I'll keep you waiting (although I think you know) ;)
Very nice 👍
Thank you! :)
OMG…that face at 9:31! Nailed it. I felt for you, buddy!
Great video, as always. Cheers! 🍻
Summed it up perfectly :D
Super trip Steve. Really reminded me of From Russia With Love with you as Mr Bond! I remember the train border crossing going from Helsinki to st. Petersburg where the Russian border check came on board and removed a guy as his passport pic did not match due to missing moustache! Love that one of your fans has a better room next door. Great snowy mountain scenes to top it off and great you've learned to know all the times of key events you just can't miss or be late for. Glad you make these trips so we don't have to!
Haha I'm not quite up to the standard of the other Scottish Mr Bond :D
Another cracking video! I ĺove it when I see a new one; I save it until I have a quiet space!
Thanks so much Marie :)
I came to comment on your expression regarding excessive horn use and your facial expression but notice that Davey Palmer summed it up before me. Priceless! I didn't expect that scenery, I don't know what I expected but that was a beautiful and welcome surprise. I don't think it will be too long before I visit this region. Thanks again for the exploring and entertainment
Thanks so much Michael :D I enjoyed the mountain scenery so much I stopped off on the way home, will be a future video :)
Another hugely impressive video Steve, I do agree with the train horn blowing scene being hilarious it was that look on your face really made me laugh 😂😂 the room was really tiny but it was great to see u make the most of it and the scenery once in Romania the next Morning was breathtaking, really looking forward to the Bucharest to Moldova over nighter, keep up the great work.👍👍
Cheers Gino :D The next one only gets more crazy!!!
Good train video @SteveMarsh
🚂🏙🏙
Cheers Rupert!
I did a similar journey once on this route (although with another train, and in a surprisingly comfortable couchette car), it's a fantastic experience. :)
I also travelled in a sleeper car like this one, but on an internal route (yes, there are several night train internal routes in Romania). These carriages are often locked for your own safety - the railway company definitely doesn't want your stuff to get stolen.
Amazing views indeed but wow, that driver gives new meaning to "laying on the horn". Good grief. Your face. Oh boy. LOL. Already counting down to next weekend's installment. Hope you both have a great week!
Thanks so much, next week will get even more 'entertaining' :D
Oooo I really enjoyed your trip report, happy YT recommended it to me 😍 n I loooove night train trips 😍😍 safe travels! UPDATE: just finished watching your video, u have a new follower 😍
Brasov is a charming little place. It has a 'Hollywood' sign up on one of the mountains surrounding the town that lights up at night. You're right that there are some amazing views up in the Carpathian mountain range area of Romania
I spotter the sign! :) Although I was too far away to video it. I'll do another trip up into the mountains soon!
@@steve-marsh In that case I'd highly recommend Sighisoara & can even dig out the name of the place we stayed at where we slept in the same bed as, then Prince, now King Charles slept in when he visited the place. They're VERYYYYYY proud of the fact and it's just a little family run place with not even a half dozen rooms if memory serves me right ( though this was about 12 years ago!) and was nice and cheaply priced even staying in the 'special' room.
Enjoy Moldova ( though you've probably actually already been). Another great place. There's very few places I haven't been in that part of the world and if you ever want to some ideas or advice/ POV I'm always happy to help a fellow traveller.
I constantly admire your bravery well done again Steve really interesting stuff you should be thinking about writing a book of your adventures I’d buy it
Cheers David! I really should take more notes, it's actually a good idea because so much happens that never gets into the videos (I never have my camera ready!)
I always think you're brave Steve, the places you go, and alone. Lovely to see that beautiful scenery from the train. Looking forward to the next part of our adventure; We look forward to your videos at the weekend, many thanks 🥰
Thanks so much :) This was a fun trip but I swear I didn't sleep longer than 4 hours for the entire week :D
@@steve-marsh Awww that's a thumbs down. Hope you rested when you got home Steve
Not to be a wet blanket, but I don't think he is entirely alone? These videos don't film themselves, you know! Presumably he has at least one cameraman / producer with him?. I think what he is doing (and, yes, doing it well) is to give the "flavor" of solo travelling. A bit like Rick Steves used to, perhaps? Apologies Steve if this is really a solo effort with automated cameras etc??
@@davidhiggen3029 Haha I'll take that as a massive compliment because I do it ALL on my own, not just the trips themselves, but the planning, research, scripts, travel, editing, promotion, everything!
@david higgen It's about professional editing. Steve is a professional in what he does and his films are fabulous
Stunning scenery, Steve! Those snow capped peaks - amazing. Well done for having the courage to get off the train at random stops in the middle of "somewhere"...... That guy in Bucharest has probably been trying for ages to find someone who he could unload his Scottish fiver on!
He'll still be trying :) The mountains were incredible, and much more impressive than I could ever capture from a bumpy train!
Your a brave man Steve, all that travelling in strange places, respect. I’ve just started to watch all your older videos, great stuff.
Hey really appreciate it man, don't go too far back, some of the oldies are rubbish :D although I still like to watch your dead man video from a few years back!
Lol Steve I see you forgot your window washing equipment. Those mountains are beautiful and I can imagine even more so in summer. Thanks for a great video
Haha cheers Michael!
you have a really nice TV voice. clear, well-paced, relaxing yet interesting, well articulated and pronounced. scottish i think? great voice for the telly.
Thanks so much :)