What is the current status of the local domestic trains in Moldova?

[capitalconnect]

What is the current status of local domestic trains in Moldova at the moment? I read a few articles earlier this year saying that Moldova was permanently cancelling all domestic services leaving just the four trains to and from Russia and the one train to and from Romania still running? They said it was due to the trains being very old and expensive to repair and increased competition from buses and coaches? Is this true or do the local domestic services still run? I am really struggling to find much information and some information seems to suggest that some local domestic trains are still running?

As there used to be a bunch of local trains using old D1 trains in operation such as these ones mentioned in these two old out of date timetables:

http://www.fahrplancenter.com/CFM%20Mersul%20Trenurilor%202016-2017.pdf

Timetable Moldova 02-08-2019

Main 61,341,47,47 S.Peter,Moskva,Moskva,Moskva 1:54,9:49,17:51,Valcinet,19:38 |,|,|,Verejeni,| |,|,|,Naslavcea,| |,|,836,|,Girbova,831,| 3:00,10:56,17:15,18:59,OCNITA,10:50,18:07 |,|,17:23,|,172 km,10:41,| |,|,17:36,|,Grinauti,10:32,| 3:25,11:21,17:48,|,Rediul Mare,10:22,| |,|,17:54,|,154 km,10:...

drive.google.com

I also looked on the CFM website but the information is very limited and i am not sure how up to date it is? Does anyone have an up to date timetable?

I have always really enjoyed visiting Moldova and travelling around on the old D1 trains so hopefully that is not the end of them (although there may possibly be a few left in Ukraine too) so i was hoping to take another ride on them before they are completely gone. There are also a few heavily modernised D1M trains too but i am not sure what has happened to them as last time i was in Moldova i was told they were incredibly unreliable and the original unmodernised D1 were better.

Any information regarding the status of their local trains would be appreciated.

 

[Taunton]

There is, in of all places on Youtube, an extended documentary of the Soviet Railways D1 diesel trains here, including some interviews by retired one-time drivers, who seem to have put their best suits on for the video! Many of the unelectrified diesel lines from Soviet days have ended up in the various now-independent republics, like Moldova. Like various socialist-era products they were all built in one place, in their case by Ganz in Hungary, and supplied all round Eastern Europe and the USSR. The Soviet railways did the same for electric passenger locos (all by Skoda in Czechoslovakia) and restaurant cars (from the GDR). Underground Metro cars, and many diesel locos, went the other way from Soviet plants.

Документальный фильм - дизель-поезд Д1 / D1 DMU train documentary (with eng subtitles) - YouTube

 

[dutchflyer]

On the german forum drehscheibe online it as recently stated the train to ODesa/UA is now running also again. No news about purely domestic-the last report was the railways were completely broke and staff unpaid for several monthes.
Those verymuch the same diesels were also running on minor lnes in Ukrayna.

 

[superalbs]

On the german forum drehscheibe online it as recently stated the train to ODesa/UA is now running also again. No news about purely domestic-the last report was the railways were completely broke and staff unpaid for several monthes.
Those verymuch the same diesels were also running on minor lnes in Ukrayna.

The Odessa-Tiraspol-Chisinau train is indeed rubbing once again! However, it is now formed of four Ukrainian carriages, which are hauled by a loco.

As for D1 units in Ukraine, I recently used one on a ride from Solotvyno to Korolevo. They are dire, with holes in the floor, bench seats, doors that shut too much (leaving a gap between the door and the frame), vile toilets, and a top-speed of 25mph. Great fun!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2021 ==

I've received a tweet recently where someone is using the domestic service in Moldova. They got stranded at the border station (Ungheni), due to lack of trains to Iaşi. I will ask about the service for you.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2021 ==

Update: So at present there are 4 daily train pairs from Chisinau. Two to Ungheni, one to Bender, and the Ukrainian operated service to Odessa.

 

[capitalconnect]

There is, in of all places on Youtube, an extended documentary of the Soviet Railways D1 diesel trains here, including some interviews by retired one-time drivers, who seem to have put their best suits on for the video! Many of the unelectrified diesel lines from Soviet days have ended up in the various now-independent republics, like Moldova. Like various socialist-era products they were all built in one place, in their case by Ganz in Hungary, and supplied all round Eastern Europe and the USSR. The Soviet railways did the same for electric passenger locos (all by Skoda in Czechoslovakia) and restaurant cars (from the GDR). Underground Metro cars, and many diesel locos, went the other way from Soviet plants.

Документальный фильм - дизель-поезд Д1 / D1 DMU train documentary (with eng subtitles) - YouTube

Thank you for that link. What an amazing documentary that is. I really enjoyed watching that. I see on that same channel there is also a few other documentaries as well about the DR1 and ER2 and various other trains.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

On the german forum drehscheibe online it as recently stated the train to ODesa/UA is now running also again. No news about purely domestic-the last report was the railways were completely broke and staff unpaid for several monthes.
Those verymuch the same diesels were also running on minor lnes in Ukrayna.

Thank you for the information. Good to hear the Odessa service is back and running. It is a shame that the state railway company in Moldova is so poorly run. Like many things in Moldova it seems that the railways are not really something that the government cares much about.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

The Odessa-Tiraspol-Chisinau train is indeed rubbing once again! However, it is now formed of four Ukrainian carriages, which are hauled by a loco.

As for D1 units in Ukraine, I recently used one on a ride from Solotvyno to Korolevo. They are dire, with holes in the floor, bench seats, doors that shut too much (leaving a gap between the door and the frame), vile toilets, and a top-speed of 25mph. Great fun!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2021 ==

I've received a tweet recently where someone is using the domestic service in Moldova. They got stranded at the border station (Ungheni), due to lack of trains to Iaşi. I will ask about the service for you.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2021 ==

Update: So at present there are 4 daily train pairs from Chisinau. Two to Ungheni, one to Bender, and the Ukrainian operated service to Odessa.

Thank you for the information. Much appreciated. Good to hear that some local domestic trains still run.

It sounds like the conditions of the D1 trains in Ukraine has not changed. When i last rode on a D1 in Ukraine a few years ago one train had four doors which were all stuck wide open and would not close. Despite this they still ran the unit in service with the doors left wide open meaning anybody could have fallen out if they went too close. While another D1 unit had a hole in the floor in the saloon that was big enough to fit your leg through. It really seems that health and safety is pretty much non existent over there. Georgia is another similar country like this. Some of their ER2 trains over there were in appalling condition when i last went there a few years ago. One even had a huge hole on the floor where the toilet was meant to be.

With the current trains are the two a day to and from Ungheni and the one a day to and from Bender being operated by D1 trains or D1M trains? Both were in use last time i went so just wondering what they are using now? I hope there are still some original D1 running in service!

Also i do not suppose you know what routes the D1 are still running in Ukraine currently? Is it just the just on the Korolevo to Solotvyno services you mentioned in your post above or are there others too? Just hoping to take another ride on the D1 trains in Ukraine before they get withdrawn (perhaps i will combine it with a trip on them in Moldova too)!

 

[YellowBrick]

I can't comment on current affairs, but I'm surprised to discover there are domestic trains in Moldova. When I was in Chisinau for a day 3 years ago (from Bucharest), the station board only showed the handful of international trains. Do the local trains go from another station?

 

[superalbs]

They definitely run Solotvyno-Korolevo-Bat'ovo, as they are based from Korolevo.

I am not sure outside of that, most of them have probably deteoriated beyond repair, I saw a few M62s on short sets for passenger work in the Lviv region.

I will ask around.

 

[capitalconnect]

I can't comment on current affairs, but I'm surprised to discover there are domestic trains in Moldova. When I was in Chisinau for a day 3 years ago (from Bucharest), the station board only showed the handful of international trains. Do the local trains go from another station?

Moldova has always had local domestic trains. They leave from the same exact station in Chisinau as the international trains do. I think there may be separate boards for the international trains and local domestic trains so maybe that is why you did not see them mentioned. But they definitely would have been running when you were there three years ago.

 

[superalbs]

There seemingly is one running on the line to Vadul-Siret, however this is as coaching stock attached to an M62.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

Another runs around Kovel, but again as coaching stock. Last photo I found is still two years old.

On doing research, it's too difficult to tell. Other than the coaching stock listed above, all photos are very old. It could be nobody cares for them, but it's just as likely that they're gone.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

Edit: In 2021 there have been reports of a two car unit on Mykolayiv to Kherson!

 

[capitalconnect]

They definitely run Solotvyno-Korolevo-Bat'ovo, as they are based from Korolevo.

I am not sure outside of that, most of them have probably deteoriated beyond repair, I saw a few M62s on short sets for passenger work in the Lviv region.

I will ask around.

There seemingly is one running on the line to Vadul-Siret, however this is as coaching stock attached to an M62.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

Another runs around Kovel, but again as coaching stock. Last photo I found is still two years old.

On doing research, it's too difficult to tell. Other than the coaching stock listed above, all photos are very old. It could be nobody cares for them, but it's just as likely that they're gone.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

Edit: In 2021 there have been reports of a two car unit on Mykolayiv to Kherson!

Thank you for the further information! Good to hear that at least one of these D1 units is still in use on Kherson to Mykolayiv services!

I suppose that goes to show how knackered and worn out they are that some of them can not even run on their own any more and need a locomotive to pull them.

The newest photos i could find anywhere online of D1 trains in Ukraine are from 2019 so i suppose most of the others may well be withdrawn. But as you say maybe nobody has bothered to take photos of them. I suppose we have had the virus and local trains on rural minor branch lines do not seek to be as popular and widely photographed so maybe there are some more still operating. I have not heard anything about any new trains being delivered in Ukraine so if most of them are gone i am not sure what would have replaced them.

I think i ought to take another trip over to Ukraine and Moldova at some point and investigate this! I am not sure what the restrictions are currently with the virus though so travel over there may be quite difficult but i shall look in to this!

 

[superalbs]

Thank you for the further information! Good to hear that at least one of these D1 units is still in use on Kherson to Mykolayiv services!

I suppose that goes to show how knackered and worn out they are that some of them can not even run on their own any more and need a locomotive to pull them.

The newest photos i could find anywhere online of D1 trains in Ukraine are from 2019 so i suppose most of the others may well be withdrawn. But as you say maybe nobody has bothered to take photos of them. I suppose we have had the virus and local trains on rural minor branch lines do not seek to be as popular and widely photographed so maybe there are some more still operating. I have not heard anything about any new trains being delivered in Ukraine so if most of them are gone i am not sure what would have replaced them.

I think i ought to take another trip over to Ukraine and Moldova at some point and investigate this! I am not sure what the restrictions are currently with the virus though so travel over there may be quite difficult but i shall look in to this!

Ukraine has declared that it will not impose another lockdown, and that it will not restrict travel for foreigners. I highly recommend a visit, it was refreshing and enjoyable.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

The newest photos i could find anywhere online of D1 trains in Ukraine are from 2019 so i suppose most of the others may well be withdrawn.

The maker of the documentary has posted some recent videos of D1s running in Ukraine. Here's one from June 2021.

D1-711-3 DMU at Mykolaiv-Vantazhnyi station, Ukraine, 28.06.2021

 

[superalbs]

The maker of the documentary has posted some recent videos of D1s running in Ukraine. Here's one from June 2021.

That further confirms Mykolayiv as an area they run, both there and out of Korolevo.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

I find the D1 units so interesting. Just how they got into such a poor state I don't know, they're only about 35 years old. Been on Ukrainian trains of greater age in far better condition, and even the similarly aged DR1s are far better off.

 

[oldman]

The following internal Moldovan services are on CFM's site, transport.marshruty.ru (in Russian) and Google maps:

Bălți Slobozia - Ocnița
Bălți Slobozia - Rogojeni
Bălți Slobozia - Ungheni
Basarabeasca - Zloti
Chisinau - Benderi 3
Chisinau - Ungheni

Timetables in English showing stops can be found at https://route-ticket.com/

There is nothing to indicate that these services are not running at present though the CFM facebook has some references to particular trains being suspended because of defective trains.

 

[capitalconnect]

Ukraine has declared that it will not impose another lockdown, and that it will not restrict travel for foreigners. I highly recommend a visit, it was refreshing and enjoyable.

Great news. I shall look at possibly visiting later this year. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Ukraine when i last went many years ago so it would be great to visit again.

The maker of the documentary has posted some recent videos of D1s running in Ukraine. Here's one from June 2021.

Excellent videos there. Good to see some recent footage of them. That channel has some very high quality videos.

That further confirms Mykolayiv as an area they run, both there and out of Korolevo.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2021 ==

I find the D1 units so interesting. Just how they got into such a poor state I don't know, they're only about 35 years old. Been on Ukrainian trains of greater age in far better condition, and even the similarly aged DR1s are far better off.

Indeed i was thinking the same. I suppose RVR had a much higher build quality than Ganz Mavag did. RVR trains (and most Soviet built things) are known for being very well built where as i do not think Ganz Mavag has the same reputation. Most of the DR1/ER1/ER2/ER9 trains that i have travelled on in Belarus and Russia were still in excellent condition despite being the same age or even older (although i do admit that the ER2 trains i travelled on in Georgia were in a very bad state). So it could also be to do with poor maintenance from Ukraine Railways and Moldova Railways who have not bothered to look after the D1 trains very well.

I just found this interesting website here which has tons of information on trains all over the ex USSR countries:

Statement

There is a full list of all D1 trains built here showing which are in service (if it is up to date which i am not too sure about:

Statement

If the website is correct it seems to show that CFM have 10 working D1 units (out of about 50 or 60 that they used to have) and two working D1M units (out of the 5 that were built).

If it is correct UZ seem to have about 20 working ones based at various depots all around the East of the country. So perhaps there are more than i thought.

I wish i had found this website years ago as it has a massive amount of information on trains in all former USSR countries.

The following internal Moldovan services are on CFM's site, transport.marshruty.ru (in Russian) and Google maps:

Bălți Slobozia - Ocnița
Bălți Slobozia - Rogojeni
Bălți Slobozia - Ungheni
Basarabeasca - Zloti
Chisinau - Benderi 3
Chisinau - Ungheni

Timetables in English showing stops can be found at https://route-ticket.com/

There is nothing to indicate that these services are not running at present though the CFM facebook has some references to particular trains being suspended because of defective trains.

Thank you for the information. Perhaps there are more trains running than i thought. That is certainly good news if those are still running.

There is also a section of railway line running between Mamalyha (Ukraine) and Mohyliv Podilskyi (Ukraine) which constantly crosses the border back and forth between Moldova and Ukraine six times (Ukraine - Moldova - Ukraine - Moldova - Ukraine - Moldova - Ukraine)? Does anyone know if there are any services still running on this line (either operated by CFM or UZ)? If so does that mean that the train stops for passport control twelve times on this one section (once on each side of the six border crossings here)? Or is there a special arrangement in place?

 

[superalbs]

Great news. I shall look at possibly visiting later this year. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Ukraine when i last went many years ago so it would be great to visit again.

Excellent videos there. Good to see some recent footage of them. That channel has some very high quality videos.

Indeed i was thinking the same. I suppose RVR had a much higher build quality than Ganz Mavag did. RVR trains (and most Soviet built things) are known for being very well built where as i do not think Ganz Mavag has the same reputation. Most of the DR1/ER1/ER2/ER9 trains that i have travelled on in Belarus and Russia were still in excellent condition despite being the same age or even older (although i do admit that the ER2 trains i travelled on in Georgia were in a very bad state). So it could also be to do with poor maintenance from Ukraine Railways and Moldova Railways who have not bothered to look after the D1 trains very well.

I just found this interesting website here which has tons of information on trains all over the ex USSR countries:

Statement

There is a full list of all D1 trains built here showing which are in service (if it is up to date which i am not too sure about:

Statement

If the website is correct it seems to show that CFM have 10 working D1 units (out of about 50 or 60 that they used to have) and two working D1M units (out of the 5 that were built).

If it is correct UZ seem to have about 20 working ones based at various depots all around the East of the country. So perhaps there are more than i thought.

I wish i had found this website years ago as it has a massive amount of information on trains in all former USSR countries.

Thank you for the information. Perhaps there are more trains running than i thought. That is certainly good news if those are still running.

There is also a section of railway line running between Mamalyha (Ukraine) and Mohyliv Podilskyi (Ukraine) which constantly crosses the border back and forth between Moldova and Ukraine six times (Ukraine - Moldova - Ukraine - Moldova - Ukraine - Moldova - Ukraine)? Does anyone know if there are any services still running on this line (either operated by CFM or UZ)? If so does that mean that the train stops for passport control twelve times on this one section (once on each side of the six border crossings here)? Or is there a special arrangement in place?

Georgia has some interesting contraptions itself, in various levels of disrepair!

As for Trainpix, yes, it is an essential site for anyone interested in the nitty gritty of ex-USSR railways. But beware, the D1s that it lists may not be accurate, as often the set is split up.

My first and only ride had two vehicles from D1-656 and a cab from D1-769, with the latter also having its other two vehicles in another set.

I doubt anyone has an idea on what the situation is, not even Ukrzaliznytsia.

As for that border crossing, I am told that each crossing has separate checks, and utterly ridiculous idea. Alright if you like stamps, though.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

I find the D1 units so interesting. Just how they got into such a poor state I don't know, they're only about 35 years old.

The documentary (I haven't watched it all) says that the support infrastructure for the D1s fell apart after the USSR collapsed. In the Soviet era the only workshop that did heavy overhauls of D1s was in Russia, so operators in other countries now had to cope on their own without having the necessary facilities. Then spare parts became unavailable as Ganz-MAVAG was privatised and broken up.

 

[Taunton]

Indeed i was thinking the same. I suppose RVR had a much higher build quality than Ganz Mavag did. RVR trains (and most Soviet built things) are known for being very well built where as i do not think Ganz Mavag has the same reputation. Most of the DR1/ER1/ER2/ER9 trains that i have travelled on in Belarus and Russia were still in excellent condition despite being the same age or even older (although i do admit that the ER2 trains i travelled on in Georgia were in a very bad state). So it could also be to do with poor maintenance from Ukraine Railways and Moldova Railways who have not bothered to look after the D1 trains very well.

It seems due to the rustproofing of the steel, or possibly the original steel quality, along with maintenance standards. The Ikarus buses, also from Hungary, disappeared a good while ago, the last one I saw in Russia was about 2004, with the usual longitudinal corrosion holes right through the bodywork under the windows, rusted right through. I believe Ganz jointly with Ikarus made some Pacer-lookalikes for Malaysia which only lasted a few years.

 

[Cloud Strife]

The following internal Moldovan services are on CFM's site, transport.marshruty.ru (in Russian) and Google maps:

Chisinau - Benderi 3

This is quite an odd situation in a very odd country. Bender-3 was opened as Bender 1/2 lie within Transnistria, so they built Bender-3 so that trains could stop as close as possible to the centre of Bender. The end result is that Bender-1 is a rather grand station with seemingly nothing serving it, although you can still buy tickets there. Passenger trains seemingly only use Bender-2, which is far less grand. Yet, despite the last pro-Russian Moldovan government, they still haven't managed to restore a Chisinau-Bender-1-Tiraspol service. With the new pro-EU government, it seems unlikely that anything will change.

I suppose it's the typical 'small country' syndrome, as they would lose face by closing Bender-1 formally.

 

[capitalconnect]

Georgia has some interesting contraptions itself, in various levels of disrepair!

As for Trainpix, yes, it is an essential site for anyone interested in the nitty gritty of ex-USSR railways. But beware, the D1s that it lists may not be accurate, as often the set is split up.

My first and only ride had two vehicles from D1-656 and a cab from D1-769, with the latter also having its other two vehicles in another set.

I doubt anyone has an idea on what the situation is, not even Ukrzaliznytsia.

As for that border crossing, I am told that each crossing has separate checks, and utterly ridiculous idea. Alright if you like stamps, though.

Very good point. I forgot about how so many units in former Soviet countries have been split up and mixed around. That has caught me out a lot with the various DR1/ER1/ER2/ER9 trains having units made up of a bunch of different carriages from all different units. That is why i am always careful to walk along the train and write down the number of each carriage of a unit when i am in former Soviet countries.

The documentary (I haven't watched it all) says that the support infrastructure for the D1s fell apart after the USSR collapsed. In the Soviet era the only workshop that did heavy overhauls of D1s was in Russia, so operators in other countries now had to cope on their own without having the necessary facilities. Then spare parts became unavailable as Ganz-MAVAG was privatised and broken up.

That makes sense. Ganz Mavag trains were a lot less common in the USSR than other manufacturers like RVR so it makes sense that it is harder to maintain and get spare parts for them.

It seems due to the rustproofing of the steel, or possibly the original steel quality, along with maintenance standards. The Ikarus buses, also from Hungary, disappeared a good while ago, the last one I saw in Russia was about 2004, with the usual longitudinal corrosion holes right through the bodywork under the windows, rusted right through. I believe Ganz jointly with Ikarus made some Pacer-lookalikes for Malaysia which only lasted a few years.

Hungary really does not seem to make very high quality vehicles. We used to have some Ikarus buses in the UK but they did not last very long either compared to other types.

This is quite an odd situation in a very odd country. Bender-3 was opened as Bender 1/2 lie within Transnistria, so they built Bender-3 so that trains could stop as close as possible to the centre of Bender. The end result is that Bender-1 is a rather grand station with seemingly nothing serving it, although you can still buy tickets there. Passenger trains seemingly only use Bender-2, which is far less grand. Yet, despite the last pro-Russian Moldovan government, they still haven't managed to restore a Chisinau-Bender-1-Tiraspol service. With the new pro-EU government, it seems unlikely that anything will change.

I suppose it's the typical 'small country' syndrome, as they would lose face by closing Bender-1 formally.

So is Bender 3 actually located in Moldova rather than Transnistria? From looking at maps i thought Bender 3 falls within Transnistria rather than Moldova? Although the maps are rather complicating as i think the border that the Transnistria government declared as their land is different to the actual border line?

From looking at the map if the trains from Chisinau to Tiraspol used Bender 1 they would have to reverse the train there. So i guess it makes more sense to just skip the station and use Bender 2 instead.

The only time Bender 1 would be useful is if they were to restore the passenger services along the branch going South of Bender 1 which i can not see ever happening.

 

[oldman]

Bender is officially a buffer zone, but actually controlled by the Russians.

A Russian Wikipedia article (edited) explains (?)

Since 2006 the CFM has its own station - "Bendery-3". This station is the subject of a dispute, since everything behind the entrance (?home) signal belongs to the Pridnestrovian Railway. But the Bendery-3 station is adjacent to the Varnita suburb, which is under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova.

The Odesa-Chisinau train uses Bender-2, passing through Benderi-3, which is used by the domestic train.

Bendery/i is the Russian/Ukrainian name, Bender is Moldovan, Tighina is Romanian. The street names show the internal boundary within Bender - Engels Street turns into Tighina Street at the customs post near Benderi-3.

 

[Cloud Strife]

So is Bender 3 actually located in Moldova rather than Transnistria? From looking at maps i thought Bender 3 falls within Transnistria rather than Moldova? Although the maps are rather complicating as i think the border that the Transnistria government declared as their land is different to the actual border line?

From looking at the map if the trains from Chisinau to Tiraspol used Bender 1 they would have to reverse the train there. So i guess it makes more sense to just skip the station and use Bender 2 instead.

The only time Bender 1 would be useful is if they were to restore the passenger services along the branch going South of Bender 1 which i can not see ever happening.

So, as I understand it:

Bender-3 is within Moldovan-controlled territory, although it's within the demilitarised buffer zone. If you look here, you can see that Bender-3 is just on the Moldovan-controlled side of the border by a few meters. From what I can piece together, the border in this area is effectively wide open, as for instance, the concrete blocks next to the main road here form the border. The entire area is part of the buffer zone (including the Transnistrian-side of Bender), so there's probably little reason to strictly control pedestrians going between two parts of the city.

Yes, if they used Bender-1, the train would have to reverse. It's probably not worth the trouble of using, given that Bender is hardly an important city.

 

[capitalconnect]

Bender is officially a buffer zone, but actually controlled by the Russians.

A Russian Wikipedia article (edited) explains (?)



The Odesa-Chisinau train uses Bender-2, passing through Benderi-3, which is used by the domestic train.

Bendery/i is the Russian/Ukrainian name, Bender is Moldovan, Tighina is Romanian. The street names show the internal boundary within Bender - Engels Street turns into Tighina Street at the customs post near Benderi-3.

So, as I understand it:

Bender-3 is within Moldovan-controlled territory, although it's within the demilitarised buffer zone. If you look here, you can see that Bender-3 is just on the Moldovan-controlled side of the border by a few meters. From what I can piece together, the border in this area is effectively wide open, as for instance, the concrete blocks next to the main road here form the border. The entire area is part of the buffer zone (including the Transnistrian-side of Bender), so there's probably little reason to strictly control pedestrians going between two parts of the city.

Yes, if they used Bender-1, the train would have to reverse. It's probably not worth the trouble of using, given that Bender is hardly an important city.

Thank you for the information. That clears it up. I had forgot about the Open Street Maps website. This is an excellent detailed mapping website and far more helpful than Google Maps is.

Can i also ask what is the current status of stations in Chisinau? From looking on Open Street Maps it shows Chisinau 1 (the main large station where all trains leave from) as well as Chisinau 2 and Chisinau 3 (Chisinau 3 is actually two stations with one serving the Northbound direction and one serving the Southbound direction) both located between Chisinau 1 and Revaca stations? Can anyone confirm if Chisinau 2 and Chisinau 3 are both still in use? If so i would presume that local trains still call at Chisinau 2 and then Chisinau 3 stations after leaving the main station?

There is also Visterniceni station just a few minutes North of Chisinau 1 (in fact Visterniceni is closer to the centre of Chisinau than the main Chisinau 1 station is) which i remember boarding a train at years ago. I just found a recent Youtube video of it and it looks extremely overgrown and abandoned now but amazingly it is still in use. I am amazed that the trains run on tracks in this state.

Also one other question i have is are there still trains between Etulia (Moldova) and Reni (Ukraine) currently operating (the line is completely unconnected to the rest of the Ukraine railway network)? The latest information i can find on the EGTRE website says there are but i think some of this information is out of date? Can anybody confirm if there are services running and if so are they currently CFM or UZ operated and what stock is used?

 

[superalbs]

Blimey, wouldn't it be nice if they just put everything on HAFAS!

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Here's a photo of a decrepit D1 at Chisinau station on September 12th. The unit seems to be made up of cars from two different units.

Statement

 

[alex397]

Here's a photo of a decrepit D1 at Chisinau station on September 12th. The unit seems to be made up of cars from two different units.

Statement

That really is decrepit, but I’d love to go and see it in service for real.

 

[superalbs]

That really is decrepit, but I’d love to go and see it in service for real.

It seems like they would sound pretty good too, if they actually went at any significant speed.

 

[Railsigns]

I'm slightly shocked by the state of that. I rode on one of these units in the summer of 2019 (Chișinău to Ungheni), and it was fairly presentable inside and out.

 

[capitalconnect]

I'm slightly shocked by the state of that. I rode on one of these units in the summer of 2019 (Chișinău to Ungheni), and it was fairly presentable inside and out.

Was it an original D1 or one of the heavily modernised D1M that you travelled on? As the D1M trains are in much better condition that the original D1 trains so maybe you travelled on one of them?

 

[Railsigns]

Was it an original D1 or one of the heavily modernised D1M that you travelled on? As the D1M trains are in much better condition that the original D1 trains so maybe you travelled on one of them?

It looked just like the one in post #25 but less shabby. Wooden bench seats on the inside.