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By train from Gara de Nord directly to the arrivals terminal at Otopeni airport: the newest railway line is 94% complete, and from December anyone who wants to get to Henri Coandă airport will be able to use this route. It is now used only for testing, and the first to arrive by train to the airport were Romanian state officials, led by President Klaus Iohannis. Authorities say the new route will solve the traffic problem on DN1 and Bucharest’s ring road.
Digi24 reporters did an experiment to find out how long it takes to travel the distance with the new train and how long – by car.
Alexandra Georgescu, Digi24 journalist: It’s 1:44 pm I left right now by train from Otopeni to Gara de Nord. It remains to be seen how much we will do. It should normally take about 20 minutes. At the same time, my colleague Maria Moiș left in a car. Let’s see how long it takes to get to the North Station from here in Otopeni.
The railway connecting Henri Coandă Airport and Gara de Nord was used for the first time on Monday, in the direction of Otopeni. Klaus Iohannis, Ludovic Orban and Lucian Bode carried out the first test with the train that will officially run on this route from December. The question remains: how advantageous will the new means of transport be for those in a hurry to catch the plane? That’s why one of the Digi24 reporters made the route by car:
Maria Moiş, Digi24 journalist: By car it seems advantageous so far: I did about 5 km. We are approaching the entrance to Bucrueşti and it has only been 7 minutes. Let’s see where my colleague got to on the train.
Alexandra Georgescu, Digi24 journalist: After about 25 minutes since I left Otopeni airport, I traveled almost 3 km. We still have 16 km to go to the North Station, but, to be honest, now the train runs faster.
Romania rushed to build the railway linking the northern train station to Otopeni to host the European Football Championship that was to be held in the summer of 2020.
Despite the traditional congestion in the capital, the journey by car was easier than on the specially inaugurated train to take tourists to the airport.
Maria Moiş, Digi24 journalist: I arrived at Gara de Nord at 23 minutes. It is true that I did not do this route at rush hour. Our colleague is still on the way.
The train ride on the new 18-kilometer rail section took twice as long as the automobile route.
Alexandra Georgescu, Digi24 journalist: We finally reached the north station of the Otopeni airport. I did it for about 45 minutes, but authorities say that will not happen when this section officially works.
Editing: Monica Bonea
