Viseu de Sus · Sovata · Moldovita · steam and diesel
Which mocanita do you ride?
Three narrow-gauge lines with official programs and fares: Viseu, Sovata and Moldovita. Below: the verdict by what you want, the fare comparison and the measured drives.
The quick verdict
Pick by what you want: the big steam day, the easy weekend or the minimum budget. Fares are from the operators' own sites.
| The full steam day | Viseu de Sus | About 6 h return through the Vaser valley, departing 09:00 or 10:00. The 2026 timetable lists May–October daily and January–April Thursday–Sunday. For November and December 2026, the operator’s homepage lists Thursday–Sunday and its “Mersul trenurilor” timetable page Friday–Sunday. Thursday departures remain unconfirmed; check your chosen date in the official ticket shop. Standard adult 136 lei. At Vișeu, the operator’s rules allow a diesel locomotive or railcar to replace the steam locomotive in exceptional circumstances, at the same ticket price. |
|---|---|---|
| An easy weekend from the center | Sovata | Sovata–Campu Cetatii 14 km, about 2 h 30 min return. Fri–Sun 10:00 and 13:30; Mon–Thu closed. Adult 80 lei, child 50, senior 70. The service is normally scheduled with steam; if the steam locomotive fails, the operator may use a vintage diesel locomotive. |
| Steam in Bucovina | Moldovita–Argel | Steam locomotive, 25 km, 3 h return. Adult 60 lei, child 35. Cash only; days with no seats are missing from the calendar. In exceptional cases, the operator may use a diesel locomotive for safety and service continuity. |
| Minimum budget + monastery | Moldovita–Vatra Moldovitei | Diesel, 10 km, 1 h 40 return: adult 30 lei, child 20. The break allows a visit to Moldovita Monastery. Cash only, booking required. |
| Winter and off-season | Viseu de Sus | The 2026 timetable lists Thursday–Sunday for January–April. For November and December 2026, the operator’s homepage lists Thursday–Sunday and its “Mersul trenurilor” timetable page Friday–Sunday. Thursday departures remain unconfirmed; check your chosen date in the official ticket shop. At Vișeu, the operator’s rules allow a diesel locomotive or railcar to replace the steam locomotive in exceptional circumstances, at the same ticket price. |
| With lunch included | Viseu, the Special package | 198 lei adult (189 student/pensioner, 149 pupil): ticket + grill + coffee + soft drink + pastry. Easter, Christmas and New Year run a different program and fares. |
Access, measured by road
The three stations sit in Maramures, Transylvania and Bucovina; below, the drives from four cities.
Method: OSRM car routes on OpenStreetMap, measured on 17 September 2026. Times are continuous driving, no stops, one way.
| From | To | km | min |
|---|---|---|---|
| București | Vișeu de Sus | 525.6 | 547 |
| București | Sovata | 334.6 | 322 |
| București | Moldovița | 497.0 | 397 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Vișeu de Sus | 165.8 | 193 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Sovata | 161.2 | 150 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Moldovița | 256.0 | 340 |
| Brașov | Vișeu de Sus | 340.8 | 387 |
| Brașov | Sovata | 149.8 | 163 |
| Brașov | Moldovița | 384.2 | 421 |
| Iași | Vișeu de Sus | 310.1 | 402 |
| Iași | Sovata | 276.0 | 319 |
| Iași | Moldovița | 189.6 | 223 |
Shortest drive on the list: Brasov–Sovata, 149.8 km / 2 h 43 (measured).
Map
Positions from each site's coordinates; towns for orientation. Relief: Copernicus GLO-90 model. Scale bar: 20 km.
The lines, one by one
Official fares, compared
From the three operators' sites. At Moldovita payment is cash only; at Viseu, holidays carry separate fares.
| Run | Fare | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Viseu Standard | adult 136 · student/pensioner 126 · pupil 95 | about 6 h |
| Viseu Special (with meal) | adult 198 · student/pensioner 189 · pupil 149 | about 6 h |
| Sovata | adult 80 · child 50 · senior 70 | about 2 h 30 min |
| Moldovita–Argel, steam | adult 60 · child 35 | 3 h |
| Moldovita–Vatra, diesel | adult 30 · child 20 | 1 h 40 |
At Moldovita, under-3s ride free without a seat. Sovata group rates by phone.
Vișeu de Sus the 6-hour day
- About 6 h return through the Vaser valley; departing 09:00 or 10:00 in the morning.
- 2026 timetable: May–October daily; January–April Thursday–Sunday. For November and December 2026, the operator’s homepage lists Thursday–Sunday and its “Mersul trenurilor” timetable page Friday–Sunday. Thursday departures remain unconfirmed; check your chosen date in the official ticket shop.
- Standard: adult 136, student/pensioner 126, pupil 95 lei; Special with meal: 198/189/149. Holidays: different program and fares. At Vișeu, the operator’s rules allow a diesel locomotive or railcar to replace the steam locomotive in exceptional circumstances, at the same ticket price.
Tickets: The electronic online-purchase confirmation is only proof for collecting your travel ticket at the station counter. Platform access requires the travel ticket issued by the operator. The rules set no collection deadline.
Sovata Friday–Sunday
- Sovata–Campu Cetatii 14 km, 760 mm gauge; about 2 h 30 min return.
- Fri–Sun 10:00 and 13:30; Mon–Thu closed. Times vary by season — check the calendar.
- Adult 80, child (4–14) 50, seniors 70 lei. Be at the station 30 minutes before departure.
- The service is normally scheduled with a steam locomotive. If the steam locomotive fails, the operator may use a vintage diesel locomotive.
Tickets: Book from the calendar on the site; group rates by phone.
Moldovița cash only
- Argel: steam, 25 km, 3 h return, 60/35 lei. Vatra: diesel, 10 km, 1 h 40, 30/20 lei.
- Booking required; no show 15 minutes before and it is cancelled. Under-3 free, no seat.
- No static timetable: days missing from the calendar have no seats all day. Cash only.
- The Moldovița–Argel route is normally scheduled with steam; in exceptional cases, the locomotive may be replaced by a diesel locomotive for safety and service continuity.
Tickets: Book online, pay cash at the counter; station parking 9 lei.
Sibiu–Agnita: regular diesel trains run between Cornățel and Hosman, a 14 km round trip taking about 90 minutes. An online order is a reservation, not a ticket. Before boarding, show station staff your name or order/reservation number to collect the physical tickets. When checked on 23 October 2026, the booking page listed 25 October and 1 November, at 11:00 and 14:00, with fares of 30–65 lei. Confirm directly with the operator that places remain. This comparison covers Vișeu, Sovata and Moldovița only; Sibiu–Agnita is not compared.
Practical
Tickets
At Vișeu you can buy online, but the electronic confirmation is only proof for collecting the ticket at the station counter; platform access requires the travel ticket issued by the operator. At Sovata and Moldovița, fares are on the operators’ sites, and check the calendar for the exact day.
Bookings
At Moldovita booking is required and lapses without check-in 15 minutes ahead. At Sovata arrive 30 minutes before departure.
Money
At Moldovita payment is cash only — including station parking (9 lei). At Viseu buy online; holiday fares differ.
Bases
Brasov is closest to Sovata (149.8 km); Cluj to Viseu (165.8); Iasi to Moldovita (189.6). From Bucharest the shortest is Sovata: 334.6 km.
Questions
Which mocanita should I pick?
For the big steam day: Viseu. For an easy weekend: Sovata. For Bucovina on a small budget: Moldovita — steam to Argel or diesel to Vatra Moldovitei.
Are they all steam?
Under the normal timetable, Vișeu, Sovata and the Moldovița–Argel route are steam services; Moldovița–Vatra Moldoviței is a diesel service. Operators allow substitutions in specific circumstances: at Vișeu, a diesel locomotive or railcar may replace the steam locomotive in exceptional cases at the same ticket price; at Sovata, a vintage diesel locomotive may be used if the steam locomotive fails; and on Moldovița–Argel, a diesel locomotive may be used in exceptional cases for safety and service continuity.
Do I need a booking?
At Moldovița, booking is required and is cancelled if you have not checked in 15 minutes before departure. At Sovata, arrive 30 minutes before departure. At Vișeu, the electronic online-purchase confirmation is only proof for collecting the ticket at the station counter; platform access requires the travel ticket issued by the operator. The rules set no collection deadline.
Can I pay by card?
Not at Moldovita: cash only, as announced on the site. At Viseu tickets are bought online; at Sovata check the terms in the booking calendar.
Do they run in winter?
The 2026 timetable lists Thursday–Sunday for January–April. For November and December 2026, the operator’s homepage lists Thursday–Sunday and its “Mersul trenurilor” timetable page Friday–Sunday. Thursday departures remain unconfirmed; check your chosen date in the official ticket shop. Both pages checked on 19 October 2026.
How long is the drive?
Measured examples: Cluj–Viseu 165.8 km / 3 h 13; Brasov–Sovata 149.8 / 2 h 43; Iasi–Moldovita 189.6 / 3 h 43; Bucharest–Sovata 334.6 / 5 h 22.
Sources
- Viseu — 2026 program (operator page)
- Viseu — timetable
- Viseu — online tickets (shop)
- Sovata — program and prices
- Moldovita — fares and bookings
- Sibiu–Agnita — regular runs (operator booking page)
- Trenopedia — narrow-gauge railways in Romania
- Mocanita, last of the Carpathian forestry railways (Google Arts & Culture)
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