The “Semmering of Banat” railway, Romania’s first mountain line, traverses historical sites, evoking the Austro-Hungarian past and drawing tourists despite its fragile status.
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The first mountain railway in modern Romania, the “Semmering of Banat,” opened in 1863 to transport coal from the Banat mountains to the Danube ports. This railway, running between Oravița and Anina, evokes the famous Austrian Semmeringbahn. The 34-kilometer line, with its tunnels and viaducts, was originally built by the Viennese government to extend the coal transport route. The tourist train, which travels through scenic areas, showcases the region’s history, including memorials to deportations and industrial remnants. The journey highlights impressive engineering feats like the Jitin viaduct and the long tunnel. The terminus, Anina, is a former thriving industrial town now showing signs of decline. Despite the fragility of the line, civil society has mobilized to ensure its continued operation, leading the Romanian Railways to confirm its daily service until at least December 2026. The train journey offers a glimpse into the region’s past, contrasting the natural beauty with the fading industrial and historical elements.
