Romania’s passenger rail transport market will open up for competition in a much deeper way as the European Union’s Fourth Railway Package comes into force in 2019.

The possible entry on the local market of big western operators, which benefit from a strong national support from their countries’ governments, may eliminate the small private local operators and even the state operator, according to Viorel Lucaci, a state inspector at the Romanian Railway Safety Authority (ASFR), local Economica.net reported.

Lucaci believes that the state passenger rail carrier CFR Calatori needs to urgently invest in buying new, modern rolling stock. He also thinks that both the state operator and the smaller private operators should change the architecture of their vehicle inventory and move from the classic trains made of engine and wagons to electric multiple unit (EMU) and diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains, which are more efficient.

If local operators fail to modernize and the authorities in Bucharest don’t come up with coherent policies for this sector, then local operators will end up being removed from the market by western competitors.

All aboard! Short guide to traveling by train in Romania

editor@romania-insider.com