Heatwave triggers rail speed limits, delays hit 4 hours at Bucharest's main station

Delays grip Gara de Nord on Saturday morning

On 27 June 2026, passengers at Bucharest's Gara de Nord faced severe disruptions as a heatwave triggered speed restrictions on the rail network. The R‑E 9900 train from Craiova, scheduled to arrive at 6:23, was posted with a 260-minute delay, more than doubling the normal 4‑hour journey. Other arrivals from Satu Mare (150 minutes), Arad (110 minutes), and a second Craiova service (120 minutes) also ran late, while departures to Constanța and Brașov saw delays of 90 and 50 minutes.

Craiova → București (arr.)260

Satu Mare → București (arr.)150

Arad → București (arr.)110

București → Constanța (dep.)90

București → Craiova (dep.)100

București → Brașov (dep.)50

Craiova → București (arr.)

260 minutes

Satu Mare → București (arr.)

150 minutes

Arad → București (arr.)

110 minutes

București → Constanța (dep.)

90 minutes

București → Craiova (dep.)

100 minutes

București → Brașov (dep.)

50 minutes

Data from the article text

Speed restrictions imposed to protect infrastructure

CFR SA, the national railway infrastructure manager, warned on 26 June that it would apply temporary speed limits to prevent track buckling and ensure safe operations in extreme heat. These limits are triggered when ambient temperatures cross critical thresholds, with monitoring by regional rail branches across exposed sections, bridges, and signalling systems.

“In the context of weather warnings for heatwave and severe thermal discomfort issued today, 26 June 2026, by the National Meteorological Administration, CFR Călători informs the public that extreme temperatures can affect rail traffic and may cause train delays.”

AC systems struggle in extreme heat

CFR Călători noted that when outside temperatures exceed 35°C in the shade, equivalent to 50–80°C in sun‑exposed areas near trains, air‑conditioning units may operate at reduced efficiency or switch to ventilation mode to prevent equipment damage. Additional maintenance measures were deployed, including replacing air filters, cleaning cooling components, and assigning onboard electricians on high‑risk routes.

Heatwave covers all of Romania

The National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued a heatwave advisory from 26 June 10:00 to 30 June 21:00, forecasting maximum temperatures between 32 and 40°C. Yellow, orange, and red alerts are in place, with the temperature‑humidity index expected to exceed 80 units in several regions. CFR Călători advised passengers to stay hydrated and to alert train staff immediately if they feel unwell.