The European Commission recently approved an investment of EUR 751 million from its cohesion fund for the Sighișoara – Coslariu railway section of the Brasov – Simeria railway, which would improve passenger transport in the West of Romania.

The 89.5 kilometer double railway line from Sighisoara to Coslariu, once completed, will allow for a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour for passenger trains, and 120 km/h for freight trains. Passenger transport is expected to increase and journey times are predicted to fall for the 1.12 million inhabitants of the region.

The total investment needed is EUR 884 million. The project is expected to end in 2015, and create 600 jobs in the meantime.

Romania has been allotted EUR 19.7 billion in cohesion policy financing between 2007 and 2013.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: CFR)