Romania train tickets

Arrived Bucharest Nord station and needed tickets to the airport. Big display said airport train at 12:17 plus the sign next to it seemed it indicate an express train at 12:30, both on Line 5, so we went to get tickets.

Followed “Billets” sign and found a big bank of ticket machines, some even had an English language option. Selected the required tickets and the price was 14 lei.

Went to pay by credit card and it indicated to insert card in the reader, then key in PIN. The PIN number keypad displays digits in a random layout for security, so get it wrong the first time, then second is rejected, very carefully enter PIN again but still rejected.

Gave up and headed for a ticket window, queued at one but a helpful man asked “Tickets?” and pointed to another window. I have no idea what the several other windows were selling!

The attendant spoke English and efficiently issued two tickets for the 12:30 train, for 11 lei! Not sure why they were cheaper.

Noted Platform 5 on the big display board and found it at 12:15. A train was coming in and I assumed it was the 12:17 so instead of boarding had a look around and came back. The train was still there and the sign on the platform said 12:30, so realised that this was actually the 12:30 and the board displaying 12:17 must have been arrivals.

So, make sure you know that you are checking the correct times – arrival vs departure – and know the local platform display rules!