Oradea Train Station (Gara Oradea) is the main passenger railway station in Oradea, in Bihor County in western Romania. The train station is located in the northern part of the city and forms an important hub for regional, interregional, and international trains. Oradea has two other train stations east and west of the city.
History Of Oradea Train Station
The foundation stone for the first railway station in Oradea was laid on 27 May 1857 in the presence of the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef and his wife Elisabeth, better known as “Sissy”. The station was part of a railway line that was being constructed between Budapest, the capital of the Austo-Hungarian Empire, and Cluj-Napoca, the capital of Transylvania, and a line between Budapest and Bucharest, the capital of Wallachia.
In 1902, the train station building was heavily modified and expanded following the designs of the Hungarian architect Kálmán Rimanóczy Sr., which gave the building its current appearance.
Train Companies And Routes At Oradea Train Station
There are multiple railway companies operating trains running to and from Oradea Train Station:
- CFR Călători is Romania’s national railway company and the largest operator of train routes at Oradea Train Station, including regional lines and long-distance services to Timișoara North, Satu Mare, Bucharest North, and Budapest (Hungary).
- InterRegional Călători operates trains on the routes Oradea-Arad–Timișoara North, Oradea-Cluj Napoca, and Oradea-Satu Mare-Halmeu.
- Transferoviar Călători also operates regional trains on the route Oradea-Cluj Napoca.
You can find live departure and arrival information on the website of Căile Ferate Române.
Buying Train Tickets At Oradea Train Station
Where you can buy your tickets depends on the rail company you’re traveling with, but in most cases, you can buy them either at the train station or online.
- CFR Călători: Tickets can be bought at one of the ticket counters or vending machines inside the train station, via certified travel agencies, or online via the website of CFR Călători or their mobile app.
- InterRegional Călători: Tickets can be purchased at their ticket office at the train station or online via their website.
- Transferoviar Călători: Tickets can be purchased at their ticket office at the train station or online via their website.
Getting To And From Oradea Train Station
The train station is located in the northern part of Oradea and is a 15-minute walk from the northern end of the pedestrian street Calea Republicii, and a 30-minute walk from Union Square.
You can also get to and from Oradea Train Station by public transport, as there is a tram and a bus stop in front of the train station and both serve routes to the center. Public transport tickets for the tram and bus are the same and can be purchased from the ticket booth or machine at the tram stop, via 24Pay, or via SMS. A single-journey ticket for use within the city costs 3 lei. More information about the tram and bus routes and schedules can be found on the website of Oradea Transport Local and their mobile app.
There is also a taxi stand in front of the train station and ridesharing apps Bolt and Uber are also available for rides in Oradea.
Facilities At Oradea Train Station
The following facilities are available at Oradea Train Station: public toilets, lockers for luggage storage, an indoor waiting area, a restaurant, a kiosk, and a bakery.
