Suceava's main railway station, known as Gara Suceava Burdujeni, is not just a transportation hub, but also an architectural landmark. Located in the Burdujeni district, it serves both local and international routes, connecting Suceava with other regions of Romania and neighboring countries.
History and architecture of the station
Suceava railway station was built between 1892 and 1902. At that time the area was called Burduzheni, which gave the station its second name. It was a border area between Romania and Austria-Hungary, which was part of the district of Botoshani, which is now a district of Suceava. Between 1902 and 1918, the station was a Romanian border station.
On October 28, 1869 the 89 km long Chernivtsi-Itskany railroad was opened. The village of Itskany was then a border settlement between Austria-Hungary and Romania. Thanks to this line Suceava was connected with other important cities of Bukovina.
A little later the Suceava-Roman route was opened. At that time the border was between the stations of Itzcani (nowadays Suceava North) and Burduzeni (Suceava central railway station). Itzcani was on the Austrian side, so the local railroad and border guards built a very presentable station building in neo-Gothic style, similar to the stations in Central Europe. It was built by two Austrian contractors, Gall and Ronchetti, who also built the entire Roman-Burduzhen-Itskany-Chernivtsi railroad. It was opened in 1871.
But in Burujeni, at first there was only a small stop with a platform. Then it was moved to a bigger building. Now this building houses railroad workshops. The construction of its own station in Burduzheny started in 1892 on a plot of land that previously belonged to the local estate. The place was swampy, so first it was drained by pumps, then underground drains were made and water was diverted into the Suceava River. The pits were filled with earth and gravel, and oak beams were laid at the base. And only after that the construction works started.
The Suceava station was built by the Milanese company Ceretti e Tanfani, and the project resembled the Swiss station Fribourg, inspired by Baroque architecture. In the design it is easy to guess the French architectural trends of the time.
The building was completed in 1898, but work on the surrounding buildings continued for several more years. A large locomotive depot, one of the largest in the region, was built next to the station. Houses for workers, infrastructure for them, and life began to boil.
In the pre-war period, the first floor housed ticket offices, waiting rooms, post office, telegraph office and even two restaurants. An orphanage and a school worked on the upper floors.
After World War II it was decided to build a new railroad line that would connect Suceava and Suceava North stations, pass through the city and go to the line to Kimpulung-Moldovenesk. It was completed only by 1964 due to financial difficulties.
From 1956 to 1961 the building was thoroughly repaired - heating, water supply, wooden ceilings were replaced with concrete ones, another floor was added. In 1981 the railroad lines were electrified.
From 2000 to 2006 the central railway station of Suceava was closed for restoration. In 2004 it was included in the national program for the restoration of major stations. The tender was won by a local firm Muha, and the project was developed by specialists from Bucharest. Literally everything was changed, including the square in front of the building.
Suceava railway station infrastructure
The Suceava central station is accessible:
- Several platforms serving different destinations;
- Comfortable waiting rooms for passengers;
- Luggage storage rooms;
- Restrooms.
Passenger services
The following services are available at the Suceava train station at 7 Nicolai Jorg Street, Suceava:
- Ticket offices that offer tickets for local and international flights;
- Electronic board with information about train arrivals and departures;
- Information stands for travelers;
- Stores and cafes where you can have a snack or buy necessary small things;
- Rest areas for waiting for trains.
Transport accessibility
Bus No. 8 connects the station with Suceava Airport. It runs around the clock, every hour. Tickets can be bought in the vending machine or from the driver, but the vending machine is cheaper. Buses No. 2, 3, 4, 22, 23 and others connect the station with different parts of the city. Popular cab services Bolt and Uber operate in the city. There is a parking lot for cars at the address of Suceava Railway Station.
Contact Information
- Address: Strada Nicolae Iorga 7, Suceava
- Romanian Railways website: www.cfrcalatori.ro
- E-mail: petitii@cfrcalatori.ro
- Hotline: 0800-88-44-44 (toll-free number, daily from 08:00 to 20:00)
- Mobile app: the CFR Călători app is available on Android and iOS.
You can buy tickets on the website of the Railways or on the app. For some regional trains, tickets can only be purchased at the ticket office or on the train.
Trains and destinations
Today, Burduzeni station is officially called CFR Suceava station. It stands on the most important railway line #500 (Bucharest Nord-Vicşani) and on line #502 (Suceava-Vatra Dornei-Ilva Mica). Trains and cars depart from here every day to the largest cities of Romania - Bucharest, Iasi, Botosani, Ploiesti, Constanta, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Arad, Oradea, Brasov, Sibiu and others. There are also convenient routes to nearby settlements: Vatra Dornei, Cimpulung-Moldovenesc, Cecica, Radauti and Putna. In addition, it is also possible to go abroad from here.
Tips for travelers
It is recommended to arrive at the Suceava Central Railway Station 30-45 minutes before train departure, especially if you plan to buy tickets locally. Remember about safety in crowded places. Be careful with your belongings and avoid dubious offers from private individuals.
Interesting facts
In Suceava, the central railway station was an important border point between Romania and Austria-Hungary in the early 20th century.
The building of the station is an architectural monument and attracts attention with its unique style. It is included in the list of historical monuments of Suceava County in 2004. However, it is erroneously stated that the year of construction of the station is 1869.
The main hall of the station was originally used for receptions. Fancy balls organized by the mayor's office were held here. It was in this hall that sculptor Iftimie Bârleanu created a plaster model of the equestrian statue of Stefan the Great, which was later cast in bronze and installed in 1977 near the Suceava fortress. The tradition of holding balls was revived after the restoration of the station in 2006.
