Romania’s transport minister Sorin Grindeanu said on Friday, May 13, that the tender for the purchase of 62 short-distance electric trains had been unblocked. They will replace the outdated electric trains and diesel locomotives currently in use.

The contract has an estimated value of between RON 3 billion and RON 4 billion (excluding VAT) and includes the repair and maintenance of the 62 trains. The acquisition is financed from non-reimbursable European funds and the Romanian state budget.

“The auction for the purchase of 62 short-distance electric trains has been unlocked! Today, the Authority for Railway Reform (ARF) sent the long-awaited notice of participation for publication in SICAP. It is another step towards modernizing the conditions for travelling by train in Romania on commuter routes close to big cities,” Grindeanu said.

According to the minister, the purchase is divided into three lots.

Lot 1 covers the East region and includes 20 trains that will serve the municipalities of Bucharest, Ploiesti, Buzau, Focsani, Bacau, Iasi, and Suceava.

Lot 2 targets the Center-West region and includes 23 trains that will serve the municipalities of Brasov, Sfantu Gheorghe, Miercurea Ciuc, Bistrita, Cluj Napoca, Arad, Timisoara, and Resita.

Nineteen other trains will be part of Lot 3 and will serve the South region - Bucharest, Ploiesti, Brasov, Constanta and Alexandria, via the neighbouring railway junction. The trains in this group will also ensure connections to the resorts in the Prahova Valley, a top tourist region of Romania.

Earlier this month, the Transport Ministry also approved the technical and economic specifications for a contract under which the Government would pay EUR 973 million (not including the VAT) for 12 hydrogen-powered trains.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Facebook/Sorin Grindeanu)