CFR Marfa privatisation – next year’s most prominent take-over

Constanta-Bucharest-Budapest high-speed railway contract to be signed in 2009


BUCHAREST – The Transport Ministry (MT) has submitted to the European Commission (EC) the strategy on the privatisation of company CFR Marfa (rail Freight Company) planned for 2009, according to Minister Ludovic Orban. ‘The privatisation of CFR Marfa could be the most important privatisation of the year,’ Orban said yesterday after a seminar organised by the Association of the Romanian Railway Industry, quoted by Mediafax.

‘We had had a delay and we have been waiting for an answer for three and a half months’. Since I became minister, I have selected the consultant who had completed the strategy that we have sent to the EC,’ the official added. The Minister of Transport announced in March that Deloitte and Bostina si Asociatii had completed the strategy proposing two options to the ministry, but if the bids were less than EUR 1 bn, the privatisation process would be stopped. According to CFR S.A. General Manager Constantin Manea, the rail freight market will be liberalised in 2010.

High-speed railway contract to be signed in 2009 :cheers:

As for CFR Calatori, passenger rail transport will be liberalised two years after the initially set term of 2012. ‘Foreign companies will come to Corridor IV that needs upgrading; they are not going to be interested in using secondary railways,’ Manea added.

Speaking of the development of the Constanta-Bucharest-Budapest high-speed railway, MT officials say the project is now at the stage where the tendering documents for the feasibility study are being prepared and that the contract will be signed next year. CFR Calatori General Manager Alexandru Noaptes in turn says the company needs RON 500 M per year for infrastructure repairs and announced the upgrading of 120 existing passenger carriages and the procurement of 60 new ones. The cost of upgrading one passenger carriage is from EUR 400,000 to EUR 600,000 and the price of a new one is between EUR 850,000 and EUR 1 M.

In September, Bucharest officials said Romania and Hungary plan to obtain funds from the European Union, with Austria’s support, for the pre-feasibility study of the project, as the costs of investment, due in 2015, amount to a few billion euros.

The governments of the two countries agreed, within their joint meeting in November 2007, to build a joint high-speed rail on the Budapest -Bucharest-Constanta route to continue the Paris-Strasburg-Stuttgart-Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest route.

Orban said at the time that construction works are due in 2015, stressing the main problem remains the financing process, given that costs are estimated to reach a few billion euros.
... http://nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=business&id=20081008-513522

^^
Bombardier interested in Constanta-Budapest high-speed railway


Canadian company Bombardier Transportation has announced it was interested din delivering trains for the Constanta-Budapest high-speed train service, Jean Berge, Vice-President of the company for South-eastern Europe and Romania, stated yesterday, according to Agepres. ‘We are interested in this project where we could supply trains for this new rail transport service’ Berge said on the occasion of the 2008 Railway Days.

On the other hand, the end of this year, Bombardier Transportation may also enter into a partnership with one of the local passenger transport rolling stock manufacturers to develop together projects for the Romanian and regional markets, Jean Berge further stated. ‘By the end of this year, we may conclude a partnership with one of the Romanian rolling stock manufacturers to develop various projects, regional trains, carriages or trams initially for the Romanian market and then for other markets in the region’, said Berge. He would not name the companies he had in mind for the partnership, but the only local passenger carriage manufacturers are Astra Vagoane Calatori Arad owned by businessman Valer Blidar and Remar Pascani belonging to the Grampet Group. He informed that Bombardier would participate in the Bucharest Municipality tender for the provision of 100 trams in 2009 as well as in similar tendering procedures to supply trams to Timisoara and Arad Municipalities.
... http://nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=business&id=20081009-513541

good development. If Bulgaria had such a project too, new Euro-Asia HSR corridore would be openned.

FYI see loads of pictures http://www.cfr.ro/calatori/ click on galerie foto

+

Softronic CraiovaGuys, check this out, the rumours are a real fact . This locomotive was shown at the "national railway exhibition" this week in Bucharest.

http://www.postimage.org/aVRT7qJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVRT7qJ)

http://www.postimage.org/PqSMbcr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqSMbcr)

http://www.postimage.org/PqSMdHA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqSMdHA)

could you please send more pix from Romanian railways?

First of all: Don't we already have a Romania-thread here in the ralway forum?

I din't find any, so I start a new thread....


I just wanted to post some pictures of the railway line Brasov - Bucuresti. I used this line in september 2009 during my trip to the Caucasus (see http://caucasus-2009.blogspot.com/).

The section from Brasov to Predeal is in a quite bad condition. The section from there to Campina too, but rebuilding has already started.
The section from Campina to Bucuresti is already rebuilt and in a good condition.


Here are the photos:
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/9514/20090926004.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2249/20090926013.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/913/20090926015.jpg

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/720/20090926017.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/2899/20090926019.jpg

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/9779/20090926022.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1066/20090926024.jpg

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7161/20090926029.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7885/20090926032.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/645/20090926036.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/5346/20090926040.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3006/20090926041.jpg

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/3449/20090926045.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6676/20090926046.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/572/20090926047.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8146/20090926049.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3583/20090926050.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7470/20090926052.jpg

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1812/20090926053.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3263/20090926054.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1407/20090926057.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4720/20090926061.jpg

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/8716/20090926064.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7944/20090926068.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3836/20090926077.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9806/20090926079.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6308/20090926081.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5628/20090926085.jpg

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6236/20090926095.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9706/20090926100.jpg

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7480/20090926104.jpg

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9301/20090926107.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1378/20090926112.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4863/20090926119.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7662/20090926124.jpg

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/9425/20090926129.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7074/20090926148.jpg

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1704/20090926150.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5605/20090926151.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2262/20090926154.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2990/20090926155.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5186/20090926159.jpg

Bus station Filaret in Bucuresti - a former train station:
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5823/20090926163.jpg

Former Austrian postbus in Bucuresti:
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2690/20090926164.jpg

Cool loco, what max speed ?

Cool loco, what max speed ?

^^
The new future CFR Marfa locomotive built by Softronic Craiova based on the old class 40 body. Maximum speed: 120 km/k power: 6650 kw The new CFR Calatori locomotive will look basicly the same. It will have small modifications, and it will probabily be able of speeds of 200 km/h. Source (http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ro/private/Softrans/pix.html)


BTW:
Softronic unveils the Phoenix locomotive purchased by Hungarian operator MMV

03-24-2009 09:28


Softronic Craiova brings once again to the public attention and to that of the decision-making factors in charge with locomotive manufacture, a sector in which Romania recorded much success before 1990. On March 23, 2009, the Phoenix locomotive was unveiled in the colours of Hungarian operator MMV during a public ceremony. MMV was the one who purchased the first locomotive designed in Romania after 1990. Representatives from Softronic Craiova, high officials from MMV, representatives from the Romanian authorities and major media trusts participated at this event. The launch of the Phoenix locomotive presented interest also to the public, who could admire the locomotive on line 14 at Gara de Nord.

Ionel Ghiţă, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Softronic Craiova, said that the Phoenix project represents a Romanian exercise of inventiveness and not a financial one. He referred here to the 10-year effort made by Softronic in order to develop the Phoenix project and the lack of support from the Romanian authorities. What is strange is the fact that the first Romanian locomotive manufactured after 1990 will be used not by a Romanian but by a Hungarian operator, added Ştefan Roşeanu, Secretary General of the Romanian Railway Industry Association (AIF).

Gyula Juhasz, Technical Director at MMV, congratulated Softronic for the effort made to manufacture this locomotive and said that the recently purchased locomotives will serve the MMV fleet for the next 30 years. He added that the price of EUR 2.4 Million represents 60% from the price of the cheapest product in the West. The performance recorded by Phoenix can be easily compared to the offers of Western manufacturers. Gyula Juhasz gave as example Bombardier’s Traxx locomotives. He was also pleased with the fact that Softronic experts managed to adapt Phoenix to the Hungarian network.
Cătălin Iosub from CFR Călători commended the effort made by Softronic Craiova and congratulated the team of workers for carrying on the manufacture of Romanian locomotives, a process which led to the manufacture of 4.000 Romanian locomotives. Cătălin Iosub revealed the fact that CFR Călători is currently developing a programme for the development of a locomotive capable of hauling passenger wagons at a speed of 200 km/h. All the Romanian railway companies have been invited to participate at this project. The Traction Manager at CFR Călători added that the national passenger operator collaborated with Softronic Craiova for the modernisation of 12 electric locomotives from the national fleet. The modernisation of these vehicles followed the same plan as the new product designed by Softronic. These locomotives are interoperable. The plan developed by CFR Călători focuses on the passenger traffic between Romania and Hungary. To that effect, Iosub said that the two countries are currently negotiating the implementation of direct shuttles, without having to switch locomotive. The negotiations have, however, reached a deadlock, but they hope to sign a frame agreement for several years. This agreement, together with the Phoenix locomotive, will inspire other Romanian manufacturers to develop solutions and interoperable solutions.

Mircea Arnăutu, Head of the Romanian Railway Notified Body within AFER, said that the Phoenix locomotive was a huge success because it comes only five years since Softronic Craiova received its certification as rolling stock manufacturer. (Image: Left to right: Ionel Ghiţă, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Softronic Craiova; Ştefan Roşeanu, Secretary General, Romanian Railway Industry Association - AIF; Gyula Juhasz, Technical Manager Magyar Maganvasut MMV) Source (http://rinsider.club-feroviar.ro/en/afiseaza_stire.php?id=3688)

What is the top speed on Romania main lines? What is the proposed top speed?

Currently trains can go up to 160km/h (in theory) on the Bucharest-Campina section...the entire portion from Campina to Brasov is being rebuilt for 160-200km/h top speeds, as is the line going east Bucharest-Constanta.

^^ Interesting. Do you know of a map of the expected lines Brasov-Bucharest and Bucharest-Constanta? The last I heard of it, the talk was of upgrading the latter line to "up to 160 km/h" but it would be good news if they have become a bit more ambitious.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2a4s5uh.jpg

Sorry for the crappy quality, I just did it in MS Paint...the red lines would be the final result.

There is also discussion of continuing the upgrades through Transylvania toward the Hungarian border, but nothing has been done yet.

^^Thanks. I can see that the line to Brasov is probably going to be the one that'll cost "blood, sweat and tears". It's pretty mountainous country. On the contrary, the landscape is pretty much flat like a pancake all the way down to Constanta. I'm still in the darkness, though, about where they intend to drive 200 km/h and where only 160 km/h.

Heh, you're not the only one in the darkness :)
As far as I can tell, 200km/h is doable for Bucharest-Constanta and Bucharest-Campina (orange segment in the image below) since they are generally flat...in any case, the estimates that I know of in regard to actual travel times are: 105 minutes for Bucharest-Brasov (so average speed for the whole trip = 90km/h) and 120 minutes for Bucharest-Constanta (average speed = 112.5km/h)

It would be a wonderful improvement compared to the current 60km/h for both Bucharest-Constanta (3hrs 47 minutes :nuts: ) and Bucharest-Brasov (2hrs 48 minutes) - and that's not factoring in the delays because of works on the line, of which there are many...


http://i46.tinypic.com/wtuohv.jpg

^^Thanks. Yeah, well... as a resident of France I might point fingers, but as a citizen of Denmark I can not. The average speed that they'll get on Bucharest-Constanta is almost identically the same as between Copenhagen and Aarhus. Anyway, it's faster than flying. :tongue2:

^^Thanks. Yeah, well... as a resident of France I might point fingers, but as a citizen of Denmark I can not. The average speed that they'll get on Bucharest-Constanta is almost identically the same as between Copenhagen and Aarhus. Anyway, it's faster than flying. :tongue2:

And more convenient.

I went through Romania last year on my way to Istanbul, and I'd like to
take advantage of the presence here of people with knowledge on the
Romanian railways to ask a few questions.

I used first the daily overnight train Budapest-Bucarest. Most of the way
was during darkness. What was the route followed exactly ? I know we
went through Arad and Brasov, and I saw the modernization works shown
in the picture above. But between Arad and Brasov it seems there are so
many routes available... I remember also that the train reversed at some
place.

Then I used the train from Bucarest to Istanbul. Why is this train using a
route through Videle as I see there is a more direct route between Bucarest
and Giurgiu ?

The line from Bucarest to Videle and beyond is electrified, and part of the
line from Videle to Giurgiu too. And then it seems that the catenary stops
in the middle of nowhere, forcing the usage of a diesel loco just for the lack
of wire on the last few miles... Why is this line not electrified right through
the border ? After all, this is a major international transit corridor, isn't it ?

Many thanks for your answers,

Marc.

@MarcVD, here is a map of your route:

http://i50.tinypic.com/245ng4m.jpg

As you can see, after Bucharest you took the indirect route because of a line closure between Vidra&Gradistea (a bridge that was washed away by floods 4 years ago and STILL not fixed to this day!)

The map has an error, meaning that the train from Budapest uses the route Arad-Deva-Vintu de Jos-Alba Iulia-Teius-Medias-Sighisoara-Brasov-Ploiesti-Bucharest. Line 200 between Sibiu and Brasov is also closed because of a broken bridge at Carta.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1066/20090926024.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4720/20090926061.jpg



The brand new sleepers at these two pictures are modern concrete sleepers with Pandrol Fastclip. This is the modern standard from Pandrol in the UK and this is the standard we also have in Sweden now. The Fastclip from Pandrol looks like a success and its coming to more and more countries :)

http://i47.tinypic.com/2a4s5uh.jpg


Some updates on the works on upgrading the railway network in between Bucharest and Brasov (see map above):


Am facut azi o tura pana la Sinaia cu un personal infect. Iata poze cu lucrarile din sectorul Predeal-Sinaia:

Predeal
http://i31.tinypic.com/1r5hzq.jpg

Azuga
http://i26.tinypic.com/2rh3akg.jpg

Busteni
http://i29.tinypic.com/34zhdmc.jpg

Busteni
http://i31.tinypic.com/xdt8qf.jpg

Busteni
http://i29.tinypic.com/2lo4sbc.jpg

Busteni
http://i27.tinypic.com/kehoio.jpg

Busteni - Sinaia
http://i27.tinypic.com/rsdlx0.jpg

Busteni-Sinaia
http://i25.tinypic.com/mlm6tg.jpg

Busteni-Sinaia
http://i25.tinypic.com/auuykx.jpg

Busteni-Sinaia
http://i27.tinypic.com/2v33cxu.jpg

http://i28.tinypic.com/i40ak6.jpg

New train station in Drobeta Turnu Severin:

http://www.obirsia-closani.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4.jpg

http://www.obirsia-closani.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/eurogara1.jpg



De aici (http://www.obirsia-closani.net/archives/1326). Informatii si aici (http://www.gds.ro/Economie/2010-01-06/Eurogara+prostiei).

Recent pics of upgrades on Bucharest-Constanta main line:


Marian recidiveaza cu niste poze EXCELENTE (fotoreportaj) de pe traseul Bucuresti-Constanta.

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=16684

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=16687

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=16691

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=16706

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=16714

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=16717

TOATE POZELE AICI (http://forum.metrouusor.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=833)

New updates on Bucharest-Brasov main line:


Rehabilitation of the Railway Section Câmpina-Predeal - August updates

1. Câmpina-Nistoreşti subsection:

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7977/dsc00698ey.jpg

The railway is almost finished; they are now building concrete noise barrier walls:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1186/dsc00700gh.jpg
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/8713/dsc00706c.jpg
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/318/dsc00707y.jpg
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3604/dsc00703x.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/9905/dsc00705s.jpg

The new bridge over Prahova river (sorry, it's almost impossible to enter the construction site):

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/951/dsc00697xr.jpg

2. Nistoreşti-Breaza subsection:

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/8127/dsc00686t.jpg

The small station of Nistoreşti:

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2893/dsc00691m.jpg
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1307/dsc00692ss.jpg
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3457/dsc00694w.jpg

It's easy to see in these pictures the former and the new position of the railway, which has been displaced in order to reduce the curves and increase the speed:

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2188/dsc00695ik.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/360/dsc00696v.jpg

Still Bucharest-Brasov:

3. Breaza-Comarnic-Posada subsection:

The station of Comarnic:

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5971/dsc06483b.jpg
http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/2064/dsc06480b.jpg
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1750/dsc00683h.jpg

Great idea to keep this old sign:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4425/dsc00684n.jpg
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1499/dsc00685t.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8773/dsc06471d.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3024/dsc06472j.jpg

The pedestrian underpass:

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6609/dsc06474p.jpg
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1592/dsc06475d.jpg

Rather kitschy, cheap and sloppy work if you ask me:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2931/dsc06476f.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2578/dsc06487.jpg
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4628/dsc06477o.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/352/dsc06479u.jpg
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/242/dsc06481s.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8705/dsc06482k.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6770/dsc06484y.jpg

Towards Posada:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8457/dsc06470x.jpg
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8379/dsc06466b.jpg

___

The high-speed line Bucharest-Constanta:

UCqUbRM-H2U

___

The high-speed line Bucharest-Constanta:
What's the design speed?

What's the design speed?

160 km / h. :cheers:

the design speed is intended to be 160 km/h , it's curently lower because they still have unfinished segments + they don't have the capable locomotives for the speed :)

the new 9 million EURO-train station in Constanta

http://a.imageshack.us/img827/19/85927773.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/85927773.jpg/)

video here:
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/social/gara-din-constanta-arata-ca-un-mall-de-9-milioane-de-euro.html

CFR will start projects with European funds worth 1.65 billion euro

Thursday, August 19, 2010 1:29 p.m.

CFR will start this year, with European funding bid in value of 1.65 billion for work on Corridor IV Pan-European transport, said on Thursday, for AGERPRES Director general manager, Emil Sabo.

He added that, if early, the projects EU funds through the Sectoral Operational Programme Transport were to be launched was 160-180 million euro now has the reached 1.65 billion euros, 3.6 billion allocated to the rail corridor.

Work aimed at sectors such Radna - Curtici project worth 350 million euros that will be auctioned in September, and October-November, railway sector will bid Simeria - Coslariu, work 550 million. The first section has a length of 52 km, and the second of 68 km.

"Also, choose the consultant for the project this week The ERTMS Level 2 on the line Chitila - Crivina and next week we launch tender for the choice of manufacturer for this project European funding that has everything, the project is 62 million, "said railway official.

The list of projects to be auctioned are Simeria - Gurasada (39 km, 720 million euros) and Coslariu - Sighisoara (98 km, 1.08 billion euros), and projects should be completed period 2013-2014. However, CFR Director announced that CFR will continue the program of modernization of railway stations, 15 stations are included and investment value is 150 million.

"It is very important to use EU funds because if we relate strictly to budget, and if the company budget be increased from year 500 percent all we can do is to enter a normal in the condition of the track, "Emil said Sabo." We rehabilitate Corridor IV, but we remain more than 10,000 kilometers track that need repair, rehabilitation, etc., or for that budget allocations as are necessary, because the way across Europe rail is supported by the state, "he added CFR.

Sabo announced that work on the way afertă Campina - Predeal, located on
Corridor IV advanced to 60 percent of the total, compared 30 percent at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the year traffic to be completely rehabilitated for one line and in 2011 the entire section will be delivered.

Railway in Romania are in a situation of under-funding 1990, leading to poor infrastructure in terms where over 38 percent of rail urgently needs repair, similar situation for 95 percent of the stations, 86 percent line power and 60 percent of the tunnels and railway bridges. AGERPRES Source (http://www.agerpres.ro/media/index.php/economic/item/24949-CFR-SA-va-demara-proiecte-cu-fonduri-europene-in-valoare-de-165-miliarde-euro.html)
^^

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/9079/tent2.jpg (http://img535.imageshack.us/i/tent2.jpg/)

Blue: to be tendered this year
Yellow: to be completed 100% in 2011

CFR to draw EU funds worth EUR 3.6 bln for Corridor IV
19.08.10 | by: Nine oClock | in: business

Railway company CFR SA wants to draw European funds worth EUR 3.6 bln by 2011, to modernise the Pan-European Transport Corridor IV. To this view, it will hold tenders for the Radna-Curtici and Simeria-Coslariu railway segments until the end of the year, so trains will be able to go at a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

This week, CFR SA will choose the consultant for implementing an up-to-date signaling system named ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System), upon investments worth RON 1,300,000, Realitatea.net informs.

The modernisation of the Campina-Predeal and Bucharest-Constanta segments of Corridor IV has already started and will end in the summer of 2011, one year after the initial deadline, according to Transport Minister Radu Berceanu.

Works to the Campina-Predeal segment are 60 pc completed, so one of the two lanes will be ready in November this year, the same as 120 bridges, which are now 80 pc ready, the manager of CFR SA announced. In addition, CFR SA wants to lease 30 pc of the areas of 15 railway stations to large retailers, fast-foods, restaurants, bookshops, florists and banks. Source (http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?issue=4747&page=detalii&categorie=business&id=20100819-517882)

Rehabilitation of the Railway Section Câmpina-Predeal - September updates

1. Near Breaza railway station:

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3112/dsc06654d.jpg
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2812/dsc06658cz.jpg
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/5296/dsc06661d.jpg
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/3287/dsc06662g.jpg

2. Breaza-Sinaia subsection:

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7420/dsc06646.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4284/dsc06647j.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/3424/dsc06648b.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2922/dsc06652b.jpg

3. Sinaia:

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/6660/dsc06670t.jpg
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/9970/dsc06671m.jpg
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1549/dsc06672b.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3473/dsc06674nj.jpg
http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/2876/dsc06675.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/4044/dsc06676um.jpg

4. Sinaia railway station:

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/3113/dsc06497b.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/3637/dsc06499b.jpg
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5236/dsc06508n.jpg
http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/4533/dsc06509.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3492/dsc06736.jpg

5. Sinaia-Buşteni subsection:

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/3613/dsc06727h.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8986/dsc06728u.jpg
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/1803/dsc06730l.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2729/dsc06732h.jpg
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/6632/dsc06733j.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5623/dsc06734dv.jpg

6. Buşteni-Azuga subsection:

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2993/dsc06726o.jpg
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7203/dsc06702.jpg

7. Azuga railway station:

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2903/dsc06703w.jpg
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2585/dsc06705re.jpg
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1102/dsc06706k.jpg
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/3365/dsc06708.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6145/dsc06709n.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8205/dsc06710t.jpg

Still Azuga railway station:

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5008/dsc06724xv.jpg
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/6838/dsc06719vf.jpg
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9828/dsc06720g.jpg
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/3994/dsc06721e.jpg
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5690/dsc06723n.jpg

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/8493/dsc06711t.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/6024/dsc06714t.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/3581/dsc06715.jpg
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8072/dsc06716r.jpg
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3237/dsc06725n.jpg

I read on newpaper than romanian authorities didn't made railway connection between Ford factory in Craiova and national railway network, Constanta port (cars destination for exportation).

How far is it ? Just a few kilometers ?

I read on newpaper than romanian authorities didn't made railway connection between Ford factory in Craiova and national railway network, Constanta port (cars destination for exportation).

How far is it ? Just a few kilometers ?
The main railway between Craiova and Bucharest is crossing just few meters in front of Ford factory. Another main railway, linking Craiova to Calafat (and to Bulgaria, starting by 2012, when the Danube Bridge 2 will be completed), is crossing just few meters on the left of the factory. And as you can see here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ro&geocode=&q=craiova&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.716225,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Craiova,+Dolj,+Rom%C3%A2nia&ll=44.30223,23.848486&spn=0.013084,0.027595&t=h&z=15), an industrial railway enters inside Ford Factory. So no need for another connection. But what Ford specifically asked was for a road connection between the plant and the road E574. The authorities will start to build that road next year.

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4323/59841254.jpg

The main railway between Craiova and Bucharest is crossing just few meters in front of Ford factory. Another main railway, linking Craiova to Calafat (and to Bulgaria, starting by 2012, when the Danube Bridge 2 will be completed), is crossing just few meters on the left of the factory. And as you can see here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ro&geocode=&q=craiova&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.716225,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Craiova,+Dolj,+Rom%C3%A2nia&ll=44.30223,23.848486&spn=0.013084,0.027595&t=h&z=15), an industrial railway enters inside Ford Factory. So no need for another connection. But what Ford specifically asked was for a road connection between the plant and the road E574. The authorities will start to build that road next year.

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/4323/59841254.jpg

Thank you for the answer.

That what I read on TANGIER | Renault Factory | #U-C (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=64175049#post64175049) :

Automobile - La Roumanie, un marché automobile à fort potentiel

Le 15 septembre 2010

ENTRETIEN Entretien avec Constantin Stroe, pdg de l’Association des constructeurs d’automobiles roumains (Acarom), vice-président du Conseil d’administration d’Automobile Dacia

L’Usine Nouvelle : Quelle est la situation du marché automobile roumain ?

Constantin Stroe : Avec 61000 unités écoulées, les ventes de voitures neuves enregistrées sur les sept premiers mois de l’année 2010 laissent apparaître une baisse considérable par rapport à l’année précédente : -26%. Le résultat aurait pu être encore plus désastreux sans le programme de prime à la casse que le gouvernement a mis en place pour appuyer l’achat de voitures neuves. Un programme doté d’une prime d’environ 1000 euros pour chaque voiture cassée.

UN : Que prévoyez vous pour 2011 ?

CS : Ces primes continueront à être distribués l’année prochaine et nous espérons que le marché se redressera lentement mais sûrement. Le potentiel du marché automobile roumain reste important car il y a deux millions de voitures en circulation qui ont plus de quinze ans. A cela s’ajoute la mise en place de la législation antipollution européenne qui dopera également la vente de voitures neuves.

UN : Quelle sera la production de deux constructeurs présents en Roumanie, Dacia et Ford ?

CS : La situation de ces constructeurs est différente. La production de l’usine Dacia à Mioveni connaîtra une croissance importante cette année. Elle passera ainsi d’un peu moins de 300.000 voitures en 2009 à environ 330.000 véhicules en 2010.
En revanche, Ford n’atteindra pas ses prévisions, à cause de la crise. Son usine de Craiova produira probablement en 2010 environ 6.000 utilitaires. Le constructeur américain renégocie par ailleurs, son contrat avec le gouvernement roumain. Ce dernier n’est pas parvenu construire l’infrastructure nécessaire pour le transport des voitures fabriquées à l’usine de Craiova vers le port de Constanta. On peut penser donc qu’ils arriveront à un compromis favorable pour les deux.

usinenouvelle.com

Oh, the newspaper is talking about the road infrastructure. And that's right. The former liberal government has promised Ford a brand new expressway linking Craiova and Piteşti (in red on the map). From Piteşti there is motorway to Bucharest and further, to Cernavodă (in blue). And from Cernavodă the motorway is under construction till Constanţa and scheduled to be completed next year (magenta).
Unfortunately, the current economical crisis forced the present government to postpone the construction of the expressway.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2183/romaniarel96.jpg

Oh, the newspaper is talking about the road infrastructure. And that's right. The former liberal government has promised Ford a brand new expressway linking Craiova and Piteşti (in red on the map). From Piteşti there is motorway to Bucharest and further, to Cernavodă (in blue). And from Cernavodă the motorway is under construction till Constanţa and scheduled to be completed next year (magenta).
Unfortunately, the current economical crisis forced the present government to postpone the construction of the expressway.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2183/romaniarel96.jpg

Newspaper is talking about transport infrastructure necessary for cars products.

"l’infrastructure nécessaire pour le transport des voitures fabriquées"

So I thought that it was a railway. Not a expressway or an highway. Craiova-Constanta is 400 km far. 1 train will replace at least 30 trucks.

Newspaper is talking about transport infrastructure necessary for cars products.
So I thought that it was a railway. Not a expressway or an highway. Craiova-Constanta is 400 km far. 1 train will replace at least 30 trucks.
I understand. But there is a main railway from Craiova to Constanţa, although the Bucharest-Constanţa section is currently under rehabilitation and upgrading.
But Ford is complaining about that expressway, which indeed was a promise of the former government.

What about the Dacia factory in Pitesti. How cars are transported to :
- Constanta for exportation in Africa, MENA, and others ?
- and to Western Europe ?

What about the Dacia factory in Pitesti. How cars are transported to :
- Constanta for exportation in Africa, MENA, and others ?
- and to Western Europe ?

I guess that they use mainly trucks because I saw many trailers full of new Dacias on DN7 in Romania and on Hungarian motorways, but they also use rail transport (and I know this because few months ago a train full of new Dacias had an accident in Austria).

What about the Dacia factory in Pitesti. How cars are transported to :
- Constanta for exportation in Africa, MENA, and others ?
- and to Western Europe ?

I had the chance to see a freight train near Cernavoda (close to Constanta) a couple of weeks ago which was full of Dacia SUVs. I think the train had about 50 cars (I mean train cars and not cars proper). It was heading to Constanta. Unfortunatelly, I couldn't take pictures though I badly wanted. :(

To Western Europe I think a lot of cars are transported by trucks. Actually, I only assume that since I do not have inside information and I never saw trains with Dacia cars heading to western Europe. :cheers:

More than 7 billion euros to be invested in Romania's railways in next five years
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 09:57


Investments in Romania's railway system will reach 7 billion euros in the next five years, as investors from around the world are interested in the opportunities offered by Romania in this field, Secretary General of the Association of Romania's Railway Industry (AIF) Stefan Roseanu told Agerpres.

'Romania will invest between 6 and 7 billion euros in the next five years, which will turn the country into a magnet for investors. If we get the right prioritisation in this area, then Romania's railways will become important domestically as well, since at the level of the European Union, railway is top priority,' Roseanu said at InnoTrans, the world's largest rail industry convention.

He added that the investments envisaged will be in 400 km of rebuilt railways on Corridor IV, between Curtici and Constanta. Romania's underground passenger transport system will grow by 15-20 km of new rails and investment could also be conducted into the signalling system and rolling stock.

At InnoTrans 2010, Romania is displaying at a stand of the AIF and the attendance costs, more than 30,000 euros, were covered by private companies exclusively, and also at individual stands of state companies Remarul 16 February and ASTRA Passenger Rail Cars of Arad. Source (http://www.agerpres.ro/english/index.php/english-news/item/30256-More-than-7-billion-euros-to-be-invested-in-Romanias-railways-in-next-five-years.html)

Romania is present these days at Inno Trans Rail Exhibition (http://www1.messe-berlin.de/vip8_1/website/Internet/Internet/www.innotrans/englisch/Exhibitor-Search/index.jsp?event=TRANS+10&sprache=2), among others, with the following companies:

Astra Vagoane (http://www.astra-passengers.ro/index.html):

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9277/123646maxim.jpg

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/2392/img0523ls.jpg

And Remarul (http://www.remarul.eu/):

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3278/remarul.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/remarul.jpg/)

I had the chance to see a freight train near Cernavoda (close to Constanta) a couple of weeks ago which was full of Dacia SUVs. I think the train had about 50 cars (I mean train cars and not cars proper). It was heading to Constanta. Unfortunatelly, I couldn't take pictures though I badly wanted. :(

To Western Europe I think a lot of cars are transported by trucks. Actually, I only assume that since I do not have inside information and I never saw trains with Dacia cars heading to western Europe. :cheers:

For Western Europe Dacia are now transported by trucks, beacause Morocco also export Logan to France and Germany (Somaca factory in Casablanca). But Pitesti is the only one Dacia factory who produce Duster. And Duster is a fantastic commercial success also in Western Europe. So I suppose, that with the increase of exportation for WE, a railway service will be made.

And for producing more Duster in Pitesti, more and more Sandero and Logan are no produce in Morocco.

Railway in Constanta port :

DZeNUp9lmtQ

Marfar GFR tras de o locomotiva ND2 cu o garnitura de Dacii(Logan-2008 Facelift;Sandero;PickUp;VAN) apartinandu-le Uzinei Dacia-Pitesti.Filmarea este facuta pe data de 14.09.2009-gara Constanta

Romania is present these days at Inno Trans Rail Exhibition (http://www1.messe-berlin.de/vip8_1/website/Internet/Internet/www.innotrans/englisch/Exhibitor-Search/index.jsp?event=TRANS+10&sprache=2), among others, with the following companies:

Astra Vagoane (http://www.astra-passengers.ro/index.html):

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9277/123646maxim.jpg



These coach coming from "Fervet" and "Ferrosud"project since 1968. Have no relationship with Astra factory but the second one use the same project to built coach simlar to GC,EuroFima..

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrozza_Gran_Comfort

..and Corail

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiture_Corail

built by AFB in 1975.

Cheers!

More than 7 billion euros to be invested in Romania's railways in next five years

Okay, now we're getting somewhere!
On that line to Curtici - I'm assuming there's also a Hungarian counterpart of this project on their side of the border?

Okay, now we're getting somewhere!
On that line to Curtici - I'm assuming there's also a Hungarian counterpart of this project on their side of the border?
The Hungarian railway between Romanian border and Budapest has been already rehabilitated using EU funds. Our delay is justified by the fact that our accession to the EU was made three years after Hungary's accession.
But we have another difficulty (money+time): the Romanian main railway on Corridor IV is two time longer than the Hungarian one. The total length on the Romanian side is about 800 km.
On the map bellow:

------ Currently under rehabilitation
------ Rehabilitated
------ To be tendered this year
------ To be tendered next year

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/1513/feroviar.jpg

7 billions $ is a lot of money.

How many kilometers will be refurbished, with which specifications (Doubled, electrificated, mainly passengers or freight, speed...) ? Is there a HST project, or a 200-220 km/h speed train ?

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3608/7aromaniezoom.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7aromaniezoom.jpg)http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3982/7bromaniezoom.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7bromaniezoom.jpg)

Corridor 22 : Athènes - Bucarest - Sofia - Vienna - Budapest - Prague - Nuremberg/Dresde

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/9804/7dromaniezoom.jpg (http://img816.imageshack.us/my.php?image=7dromaniezoom.jpg)
http://tentea.ec.europa.eu/en/ten-t_projects/map_library/maps_per_mode.htm

Thank you for the map. :)

7 billions $ is a lot of money.

How many kilometers will be refurbished, with which specifications (Doubled, electrificated, mainly passengers or freight, speed...) ? Is there a HST project, or a 200-220 km/h speed train ?

According to the official quoted by Le Clerk:
[...] the investments envisaged will be in 400 km of rebuilt railways on Corridor IV, between Curtici and Constanta. Romania's underground passenger transport system will grow by 15-20 km of new rails and investment could also be conducted into the signaling system and rolling stock.
But no, not HST project here, not even 200-220 km/h. The railway is already double & electrified. The purpose of the current rehabilitation is to increase the speed from 120 km/h today to 160 km/h (although the tracks will allow 200 km/h on some sections) and of course, to increase the safety. The railway is designed for both passengers & freight transport.

The Hungarian railway between Romanian border and Budapest has been already rehabilitated using EU funds. Our delay is justified by the fact that our accession to the EU was made three years after Hungary's accession.

Yes, of course. Could have thought of that myself.
But we have another difficulty (money+time): the Romanian main railway on Corridor IV is two time longer than the Hungarian one. The total length on the Romanian side is about 800 km.

And eventually quite a bit more than 800 km...
Yup, Romania is bigger, so it will cost more than Hungary. But that's also why it's more crucial and can have more benefits.

Romania is present these days at Inno Trans Rail Exhibition (http://www1.messe-berlin.de/vip8_1/website/Internet/Internet/www.innotrans/englisch/Exhibitor-Search/index.jsp?event=TRANS+10&sprache=2), among others, with the following companies:

Astra Vagoane (http://www.astra-passengers.ro/index.html):

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9277/123646maxim.jpg

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/2392/img0523ls.jpg

And Remarul (http://www.remarul.eu/):

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3278/remarul.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/remarul.jpg/)

vezi ca ai gresit prima poza,ceea cu vagonul verde.....pe care scrie intercity.Vagonul nu e produs de astra arad,cred ca vagonul in cauza pe care il cauti e cel facut de astra arad pentru ArenaWays........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ye9vrdLpLY

vezi ca ai gresit prima poza,ceea cu vagonul verde.....pe care scrie intercity.Vagonul nu e produs de astra arad,cred ca vagonul in cauza pe care il cauti e cel facut de astra arad pentru ArenaWays......
This is an English-based thread. And yes, Cori noticed Le Clerk's mistake.

Thank you for the map. :)



According to the official quoted by Le Clerk:

But no, not HST project here, not even 200-220 km/h. The railway is already double & electrified. The purpose of the current rehabilitation is to increase the speed from 120 km/h today to 160 km/h (although the tracks will allow 200 km/h on some sections) and of course, to increase the safety. The railway is designed for both passengers & freight transport.

Thanks. :okay:

Romania speed record, 200 km/h

00:35min

uV7avO6U_IU

Semi-fast romanian train

M4woCV8ZyfA

A semifast romanian train with its averege speed of 80-100km/h and a doble speed demonstration like in Czech Republic, Slovakia or Poland

Train Passing Border Bulgaria to Romania 2009

w2UiaAggvtA

Passing Border Bulgaria to Romania Train Istanbul to Bucharest Turkey to Romania

^ Great videos, thanks.

Thanks. :okay:

Romania speed record, 200 km/h

00:35min

uV7avO6U_IU

203 km/h reached by a class 42 loco in the 70s and last year, and the same speed by a Softronic Phoenix this year. THey were all done on the Făurei test track.

71qOYivyY-o

ApUf3tL50G8
(the squeaking is due to leaky window insulation)

Softronic Transmontana Locomotive ( courtesy of www.ro-trans.org )

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69932;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69934;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69937;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69939;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69941;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69943;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69945;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69947;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69949;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69951;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69953;image

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69955;image

Very awesome thing! Love it!

Well done Softronic! :cheers:

And the Astra made train cars for the Arena Italian company, leaving Bucharest train station for Italy:

Aici gasiti cateva poze cu vagoanele de calatori construite de astra vagoane arad pentru compania italiana ArenaWays,prima companie nationala privata de transport calatori din italia,uitati si site-ul ei aici http://www.arenaways.com/ http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2153/dsc06173.png http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/5348/dsc06174.png http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7545/dsc06175.png http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5035/dsc06176.png http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/373/dsc06179.png

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/850/dsc07989l.jpg http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/183/dsc07978h.jpg http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/580/dsc07975i.jpg http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1189/dsc08070.jpg http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3122/dsc08078q.jpg http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7201/dsc08069i.jpg http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6690/dsc08076g.jpg http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6355/dsc08077e.jpg http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2640/dsc08074p.jpg http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3068/dsc08073.jpg http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5012/dsc08071v.jpg



^^

I NUOVI TRENI ARENAWAYS SONO AD ARQUATA

Per l’annuncio ufficiale della partenza del servizio
è solo questione di giorni

Alessandria, 24/09/10 – L’avvio del servizio Arenaways è ormai imminente. I nuovi
treni sono regolarmente arrivati a destinazione e attualmente sono nei depositi di
Arquata (AL) per le ultime messe a punto.

A partire dalla prossima settimana dunque, si potranno finalmente vedere i tanto attesi
treni Arenaways percorrere la tratta Torino-Milano. Saranno viaggi cosiddetti “di prova”,
ovvero senza passeggeri, che la compagnia effettuerà per verificare e sistemare quelle
piccole imperfezioni che potrebbero presentarsi in un’operazione così complessa come il
lancio di un nuovo servizio ferroviario.

Con il gestore della rete ferroviaria, RFI, si è ormai giunti alla definizione delle tracce
orarie, ragion per cui anche l’annuncio ufficiale di quando e come si potrà salire sui
treni Arenaways è ormai prossimo.

L’Amministratore Delegato Giuseppe Arena ha dichiarato «La grandissima attesa
esistente e le numerosissime richieste di aggiornamenti che ci sono pervenute in queste
settimane sono state un ulteriore stimolo per accelerare ogni operazione. Abbiamo fatto e
continuiamo a fare quasi l’impossibile per trasformare in realtà il nostro sogno, quello di un
servizio di trasporto pubblico su rotaia che non abbia eguali né in Italia né in Europa. Si è
trattato di un percorso lungo, tortuoso, complicato, con insidie dietro ogni angolo: essere
finalmente arrivati a un passo dall’inaugurazione è un’emozione che difficilmente riesco a
trattenere».

A tal proposito si ricorda che la particolarità della compagnia alessandrina va al di là
dell’essere il primo concorrente di Trenitalia ad entrare sul mercato. I treni
Arenaways, infatti, non sono ascrivibili a nessuna delle categorie usuali poiché sono stati
progettati secondo criteri assolutamente innovativi, al punto da risultare unici in Europa.
Per l’assemblaggio delle componenti dei vagoni, realizzate per lo più da aziende italiane,
Arenaways si è rivolta ad una società che ha sede in Romania, l’unica che è stata in grado
di rispondere pienamente all’elevato livello di personalizzazione richiesta. Source (http://www.arenaways.com/download/2010/Comunicato_stampa_24_sett_2010.pdf)

Softronic Transmontana Locomotive ( courtesy of www.ro-trans.org )

http://www.ro-trans.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3640.0;attach=69932;image


^^

Phoenix running at 200km/h at the Faurei rail test ground:

71qOYivyY-o&feature

Bucharest – Brasov Rehabilitation Program – CNCF CFR - SA Campina Station Commissioning
15.10.10

The new Computerized Control Post system (CCP) designed for Campina Station Interlocking has been commissioned and put into operational service by Ansaldo STS SpA – a Finmeccanica Company, a press release sent by Ansaldo STS SpA to Nine O’Clock.

The innovative system - CCP integrates the traditional relay based interlocking with state of the art electronic technologies to realize the automatic control and supervision of the conditions inside the station for an increased safety of the traffic, feasibility and reliability. Ansaldo STS SpA is the leader of the Consortium “Ansaldo STS SpA – ISAF SA”, which is the contractor of “Lot 4 -Signalling, automatic block and telecommunication works of the Section Campina-Predeal”, within the Bucharest – Brasov Railway Line Rehabilitation Program, financed by European Union through ISPA program and Romanian Government. The project foresees that 6 stations Campina, Comarnic, Valea Larga, Sinaia, Busteni, Azuga and the block sections will be equipped with the CCP system and ETCS (European Train Control System) level 1.The contract was signed in 2007 between the National Railway Company “CNCF CFR – SA” and the Consortium “Ansaldo STS Spa – ISAF SA”.

Ansaldo STS – a Finmeccanica Company is a leading technology company listed on the Milan stock exchange and operating in the global Railway & Mass Transit Transportation Systems business with the provision of traffic management, planning, train control and signalling systems and services. It acts as lead contractor and turnkey provider on major projects worldwide. Source (http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?issue=4787&page=detalii&categorie=business&id=20101015-518176)

Comarnic-Busteni section of Corridor IV currently almost completed:


http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/9436/dsc09381z.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6789/dsc09393wb.jpg

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4595/dsc09402v.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1064/dsc09404j.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/199/dsc09410v.jpg

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2205/dsc09417f.jpg

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/66/dsc09424.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1880/dsc09428h.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/56/dsc09439t.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6282/dsc09440d.jpg

Same section, part II:


http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2974/dsc09450g.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5731/dsc09456g.jpg

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5100/dsc09457.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1007/img6725p.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/6856/img6726b.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1027/img7326p.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9836/img7355s.jpg

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1042/img7370i.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8101/img7518qz.jpg

Source (http://forum.metrouusor.com/viewtopic.php?f=174&t=1038)

Private real estate developer to build railway terminal in Ploiesti with EUR 7 mln
Business News | romania-insider.com | October 20, 2010 at 1:38 pm

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6163/ploiestiwestpark.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/i/ploiestiwestpark.jpg/)

Real estate developer Alinso Group will build an inter-modal railway terminal in Ploiesti, connecting the Eastern and Western areas of Romania, a private investment of EUR 7 million. The terminal, called Euro Gate Terminal Ploiesti, will be ready in 2011. It will be built on 10 hectares of land and it will include three railway lines with a total length of 2,200 meters.

“Euro Gate Terminal will stimulate the economic development of the Prahova region as well as the increase in the national economic competitiveness, which currently deals with the lack of adequate infrastructure,” said Ivan Lokere, CEO Alinso Group (in picture).

Alinso Group is the developer of Ploiesti West Park warehouse project, with a total value of buildings and infrastructure in the project reaching EUR 750 million. Source (http://www.romania-insider.com/private-real-estate-developer-to-build-railway-terminal-in-ploiesti-with-eur-7-mln/)

http://www.alinsoparks.com/docs/imgage20102010.jpg

^^ The railway platform.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6120/75522563.png (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=75522563.png)

Which system is used for coaches (like corails) access ? Is it like in France :

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6592/corail2.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/my.php?image=corail2.jpg)

It's a lift like in this bus Irisbus Crossway :

nb59RSnO3kM

Irisbus-like

Irisbus-like

Have you a picture or a video of it ?

In Morocco we have similar refurbished corail coaches but we don't see a such lift.

Thank you

Bucharest railring at Pipera:

South:
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/429/img6239m.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2594/img6241g.jpg


North:

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7448/img6261n.jpg

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/738/img6263g.jpg

Bucharest railring near Baneasa airport:

Looking south:
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9568/img6282k.jpg

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/1568/img6285c.jpg

Wow, great pics! Thank you, Le Clerk!

even is in romanian this site deservs to be seen the pictures are outstanding and relevant about railways in romania http://trenuletz.myfreeforum.ro/forum.htm

nothing new?

Breaza
http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24777



http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24780

Comarnic

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24784

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24788

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24793

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24802

Spre Sinaia

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24811

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24817

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24826

Sinaia
http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24833

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24837

Busteni

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24841

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24846

Azuga

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24856

Spre Predeal

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24866

http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24871
http://forum.metrouusor.com/download/file.php?id=24874

What's the design speed?
160 km / h. :cheers:

Do freight trains can also go with 160 km/h ? :dunno:

Of course we don't have freight train sets that could resist 160 km/h but just for fun...

P.S.
Caling that a "High Speed Train" is like calling Voluntari-Chitila a motorway. :lol:

The standard speeds on modernised mainlines are:
- 160 km/h passenger trains
- 120 km/h freight trains

And you're wrong. There are several thousands of brand new freight waggons in Romania, owned mainly by CFR Freight, but also by GFR and Servtrans. Such waggons operate internationally and are able to run at 120km/h. Of course, there are also some tens of thousands of old waggons, but they are step by stept retired of service and scrapped, while being replaced with new waggons.

Bucharest railring near Baneasa airport:

Looking south:
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9568/img6282k.jpg

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/1568/img6285c.jpg

That's not Bucharest railring, that's Bucuresti - Constanta mainline, between Bucuresti Baneasa station and the railring. The picture are taken east / west, not south / north as stated.

The picture called "looking south near Baneasa airport" is actually looking west towards Bucharest Baneasa station (you can see the entry signals). The first bridge in the picture is the bridge over the Herastrau Lake, while the one in the back is the new Miorita Bridge, over the Bucuresti - Ploiesti road. Actually, that's exactly the damaged section which is restricted to 30km/h ever since it was reopened and which will require a major reconstruction.

The standard speeds on modernised mainlines are:
- 160 km/h passenger trains
- 120 km/h freight trains

And you're wrong. There are several thousands of brand new freight waggons in Romania, owned mainly by CFR Freight, but also by GFR and Servtrans. Such waggons operate internationally and are able to run at 120km/h. Of course, there are also some tens of thousands of old waggons, but they are step by stept retired of service and scrapped, while being replaced with new waggons.
I know the new built waggons can run with 120 km/h, but, considering the poor state of CFR, I had doubt that they purcased any new ones latley (considering the "insane" averge speed for freight trains in romania)

P.S.
I belive the main purpose of the reabilitation on R22 (Constanta-Bucuresti-Brasov-Arad) is not to increase the speed for passenger trafic, but to increase the speed and security for massive freight transport, a good link between Central Europe and Black Sea.

It might not look so impresive to increase the speed for pasangers from 120 km/h to 160 km/h, but it will make a lot of diference for speed and load of the freight transport.

I know the new built waggons can run with 120 km/h, but, considering the poor state of CFR, I had doubt that they purcased any new ones latley (considering the "insane" averge speed for freight trains in romania)

Actually they did, starting with 2000. You have to consider that between 2003 and 2007 CFR Marfa had operational profit. Also, the decision to buy new waggons was not about the speed in Romania, but about being able to operate freight routes across Europe and about maintenance costs. I do not know the exact number of the brand new waggons bought by CFR Freight, but we're talking about thousands of waggons of various types.

P.S.
I belive the main purpose of the reabilitation on R22 (Constanta-Bucuresti-Brasov-Arad) is not to increase the speed for passenger trafic, but to increase the speed and security for massive freight transport, a good link between Central Europe and Black Sea.

Both types of traffic, passengers and freight are top priority when talking about upgrading the main lines. Both are equally important in terms of polution reduction, transport fuel efficiency, infrastructure maintenence costs etc. All those are far less per person per kilometer where trains are concerned, rather then road vehicles

It might not look so impresive to increase the speed for pasangers from 120 km/h to 160 km/h, but it will make a lot of diference for speed and load of the freight transport.

It is very impresive. Because it's not only about top speed, but about making the line able to allow a continuous higher speed, by eliminating the existing speed restrictions and by realigning the track on larger curves. The top speed is increasing by 30-200% (there are a lot of sections with top speed of 60km/h), while the commercial speed (average) will increase by 100 - 120%. That's not only impresive, that's huge!

Both types of traffic, passengers and freight are top priority when talking about upgrading the main lines. Both are equally important in terms of polution reduction, transport fuel efficiency, infrastructure maintenence costs etc. All those are far less per person per kilometer where trains are concerned, rather then road vehicles

They are both equally important, but freight rail transport is "more equal". :lol:

INVESTMENT OF ONE BILLION EUROS FINANCED USING EUROPEAN GRANTS
Romanian Railroad Company to hold a call for tenders for the Border - Curtici - Arad railroad segment
07.12.2010

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9182/103207.gif (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/103207.gif/)


CFR SA has launched on the SEAP portal the call for tenders for appointing the developer which will perform the construction and installation works for the Border - Curtici - Arad - km no. 614 railroad segment, with a length of approximately 41 km. The project has an estimated value of 1,177,184,177 lei, VAT excluded. The deadline for submitting tenders is January 12th, 2011, and the project will last 36 months. The contract will be financed via grants from the European Commission, and by the Government, through the state budget, as part of the Sectoral Operational Programme Transport (SOPT).

According to data published by the Ministry of Transports, the SOPT program has allocated 1.8 billion Euros for the infrastructure of the Romanian Railroad Company (CFR) (166.3 km of the IVth transport corridor). This is supplemented by an additional 227 million Euros allocated for the modernization of railway stations.

Two more railroad segments will be financed via the SOPT

Another railroad segment of the IVth transport corridor which will be financed under the SOPT is Simeria - Coşlariu, which has a length of 68 km. According to data recently presented by the Ministry, the works have an estimated value of 651 million Euros, with the works scheduled to start in 2011 and to be completed in 2014.

The third railroad segment to be financed using European grants is Coşlariu - Sighişoara, with a length of 99 km and an estimated value of over 900 million Euros. The works are expected to begin in 2011, and should take five years to complete.

The SOPT will also provide funding for the rehabilitation of the railroad bridges over the Danube, of Cernavodă and Feteşti. The works are scheduled to begin in 2011 and are expected to take three years, and have an estimated value of almost 69 million Euros.

25 projects awarded via SOPT

Out of the 61 projects submitted under the SOPT, on October 31st 2010, 21 were under evaluation, 8 had been rejected and 32 had been approved. The total value of the projects submitted was 23.5 billion lei, and investments that received approval amount to 7.3 billion lei, according to data published by the Authority for Coordinating Structural Instruments (ACIS) o the Ministry of Finance.

Out of the approved projects, 25 were contracted on October 31st, 2010, with a total value of 4.8 billion lei, of which 1.6 billion lei from European grants. The total amount of payments to the beneficiaries of the SOPT projects had reached 159.6 million lei on October 31st, 2010, which represents an absorption rate of 1.83%.

Future projects

In 2014, the Ministry of Transports intends to begin modernization works for the following segments of the European railroad transport corridor no.4: Curtici - Simeria (two billion Euros), Sighişoara - Braşov (1.9 billion Euros) and Predeal - Braşov (500 million Euros). The works for these segments are scheduled to be completed in 2020.

On the southern branch of the corridor, the ministry wants to build three railroad segments between Arad and Calafat. These projects are estimated to cost in excess of three billion Euros, as they concern approximately 500 km of railroad tracks. Work is scheduled to begin after 2017.

The Minister of Transports, Anca Boagiu, announced that when it comes to infrastructure investments, railroad and road works for the IVth Pan-European corridor, which have received European grants, have priority over other projects. Since the amount that needs to be co-financed each year by the Romanian state is very high, the Ministry will no longer have the money needed to finance other major projects using its own funds. Source (http://www.bursa.ro/english-section/investment-of-one-billion-euros-financed-using-european-grants-romanian-railroad-company-to-hold-a-call-for-tenders-for-the-border-curtici-arad-railroad-segment-103207&articol=103207.html)

Chemins de fer en Roumanie - Railways in Romania - Cai Ferate din Romania

ZLv5Y28yTUA

--------------

Romanian Trains Locomotive Cab View LE5100

UWjtKPK1-GU

Videoclip realizat cu ajutorul unor prietenii.
Magistrala 800 Bucuresti Nord- Constanta in toate cele 4 anotimpuri .
Romanian Railways along 8th main line from Bucharest NC to Constantza CAbin View

---------------
Cabin View Locomotive M800 ROmania from Constantza to Fetesti

pXwvFGgf5Q0

ENG : Along 8th main railway track in ROmania (CFR , Romanian Railways Company )( M8 ) from Bucharest Main North to Constantza .
In this video we travel from Constantza to Fetesti ,along "Black Sea -Danube " Channel , crossing through Basarabi , Medgidia , Cernavoda and over the Danube Bridges near Cernavoda and Fetesti . This video is recorded in DecemBer 2009 ,with my Samsung S85 . Special Thanks to train driver .


RO : Filmare pe magistrala 800 ,intre Constanta si Fetesti , intr-o zii de Decembrie 2009 . Multumirii Mecanicului .
Muzica : Phoenix - Zori de Zi , si Phoenix - Fata Verde

Works almost done on Câmpina-Breaza stretch of the main Romanian railway 300 linking Bucharest and Braşov:

1) between Câmpina and Nistoreşti:

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/9794/dsc01162um.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3170/dsc01164tr.jpg
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/9605/dsc01165z.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4121/dsc01166q.jpg

2) mounting the optical cable near Nistoreşti station:

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/9215/dsc01158e.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/4513/dsc01159e.jpg

3) Nistoreşti station:

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/619/dsc01152ch.jpg
http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/2174/dsc01150d.jpg
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/755/dsc01151as.jpg

3) Between Nistoreşti and Breaza:

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9099/dsc01144t.jpg
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/5555/dsc01146k.jpg
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/6447/dsc01147g.jpg
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/4327/dsc01148o.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2885/dsc01149h.jpg

Romania To Modernize 16 Train Stations For EUR280M

Romania will modernize 16 train stations within a program worth a total EUR283 million, the Government decided Wednesday.

Works will be funded with EU money, through the Regional Development Fund, and money from the state budget, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

The project, whose indicators were approved in Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, will cover the rehabilitation and modernization of train stations Alexandria, Bistrita, Botosani, Braila, Calaraşi, Giurgiu, Piatra-Neamt, Pitesti, Ramnicu-Valcea, Resita Sud, Sfantul Gheorghe, Slatina, Slobozia, Targu Mures, Vaslui and Zalau.

Four other projects approved by the Government target modernization of mechanical centralization installations on the routes Ilia-Lugoj (RON81.7 million, due for completion in 24 months), Siculeni-Adjud (RON173 million, due for completion in 36 months), 112 railroad crossings (RON105.8 million, due for completion in 34 months) and the development of a detection system for overheated breaks (RON97.1 million, due for completion in 29 months).
Source (http://www.mediafax.ro/english/romania-to-modernize-16-train-stations-for-eur280m-8262774)

A train trip on Bucharest- Constanta route will take half the time

The length of a train trip from Bucharest to Constanta will be as of June of 2 hours and 50 minutes. Aftet July 15, after several works on the railway are finished, the trip will last 2 hours and 30 minutes, according to CFR reps.

According to them, the work on the Fetesti- Constanta railway road have been completed about 99 npercent and the finishing deadline for the works is December 201, “except for Fetesti Station, where there will be rehabilitation projects that will not include rail traffic.” The CFR reps also say all works have been paid in full. The project was made with consultancy from the Japanese company Pacific Consultants International (PCI).

The total value of rehabilitation work was of 516 million euro. "For rehabilitation on Bucureşti Nord - Băneasa şi Feteşti - Constanţa there was a loan from the Romanian Government who ensured a credit of around 100 million euro from DEXIA- Austria, and later on the rest of the money came from CFR. Source (http://www.bucharestherald.ro/tourism/38-tourism/22429-a-train-trip-on-bucharest-constanta-route-will-take-half-the-time)

Arad - Timișoara railway recorded last week:

-_FflRgT2CU&lc

Please don't remind me of the song I got from YouTube AudioSwap library.

Train ride from Romanian capital to seaside city Constanta, down to two and a half hours
JULY 15, 2011 AT 12:06 AM

The train ride between Romanian capital city Bucharest and the seaside city of Constanta would take two and a half hours for trains which will travel on the route without making any stops, after works on the tracks have been finalized, according to the country’s Railways Company CFR. The company has revamped 174 kilometers of railway track and 102 bridges.

Four rapid trains will travel this distance every day without making any stops, taking travelers to the seaside in two hours and a half. The trains which will make stops on their way will get to Constanta in up to three hours.
Last year, the train ride from Bucharest to Constanta took four hours during the summer. With modernization works still pending in some areas, CFR expects the ride to reach two hours and a quarter after everything will be finalized. There are ten train rides a day between Bucharest and Constanta. Ticket prices vary between RON 42 and RON 52. Source (http://www.romania-insider.com/train-ride-from-romanian-capital-to-seaside-city-constanta-down-to-two-and-a-half-hours/28568/)

Valea Vaserului
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5961576510_12ae36a405_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/64661111@N07/5961576510/)
32421873 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/64661111@N07/5961576510/) by Europeanul (http://www.flickr.com/people/64661111@N07/), on Flickr
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5961019507_a3913fed0f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/64661111@N07/5961019507/)
47557102 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/64661111@N07/5961019507/) by Europeanul (http://www.flickr.com/people/64661111@N07/), on Flickr

Sinaia train station works on C IV:


http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7725/img8787h.jpg

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/163/img8767u.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5779/img8768l.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5226/img8769m.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/301/img8770y.jpg

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/1525/img8771cz.jpg

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/7205/img8772p.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1235/img8775a.jpg

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/9152/img8776d.jpg

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/7653/img8777n.jpg

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8086/img8779f.jpg

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/6639/img8782h.jpg

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/1897/img8786.jpg

Same route:


si poza laudata:

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8346/20110807dsc00555.jpg

Presentation of 2 rail terminals currently U/C in Ploiesti and Timisoara:


PLOIESTI (investment by Belgian Alinso Group):

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/291/72790141.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/949/74052203.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/7384/85403364.jpg

Source (http://www.alinsoparks.com/en/eurogateterminal/introduction)


TIMISOARA (investment by RO Gov and Timisoara City:

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/1807/slide01c.jpg

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5294/slide05s.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4746/slide13xx.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3623/slide19a.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3654/slide20i.jpg



Source (http://tarzan.plancontrol.ro/)

Romanian railways company to revamp Vintu de Jos-Simeria railway section with EUR 317 mln
NOVEMBER 8, 2011 AT 3:53 PM

Romanian state-owned railways company CFR SA has awarded the contract for construction works and installations on Vintu de Jos – Simeria section in Romania to an association made of companies Swietelsky – Strabag – Alstom – Arcada – Euro Construct – Transferoviar Group. The value of the contract amounts to EUR 317 million, without VAT, and the funding sources are the European Commission, with 85 percent, and the Romanian Government with 15 percent. The construction works have to be finalized in 30 months. Source (http://www.romania-insider.com/romanian-railways-company-to-revamp-vintu-de-jos-simeria-railway-section-with-eur-317-mln/39815/)

CFR Awards EUR250M Border-Arad Line Upgrade Contract
10.11.2011

Romanian railway administrator CFR SA has awarded a contract worth almost EUR250 million, for the upgrade of a 41.2 km rail line from the Hungarian border to the city of Arad, to the consortium Astaldi – Swietelsky – Alstom – Euro Construct – Dafora. Source (http://www.zfenglish.com/social-politics/cfr-awards-eur250m-border-arad-line-upgrade-contract-8956269)

Romanian Transport Ministry has contracted technicians from the Belgium Transport Ministry for the redesign and modernization of Bucharest's main train station on the model of Brussels' main station. Source (http://www.puterea.ro/articol/modernizarea_garii_de_nord_va_dura_9_ani)

Romanian Ministry of Transport signs contracts of over EUR 200 Million
09/12/2011

Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has signed contracts worth EUR 216 Million for the modernisation of the railway section Vinţu de Jos-Coşlariu, 5 tunnels and 5 stations. Thus, for the railway section Vinţu de Jos-Coşlariu, the contract is worth EUR 176.18 Million, the rehabilitation period being 2011-2014. The five tunnels to be rehabilitated are located in the area of activity of Braşov and Timişoara regional subsidiaries of CFR SA and the contract is estimated at EUR 4.9 Million. This project will be executed by the consortium Swietelsky-Sopmet-Dafora.

Other contracts signed by the Romanian Ministry of Transport include the modernisation of the railway stations: Brăila, worth EUR 7.6 Million, finalized in 1 year and 5 months by the consortium Arcada Company-Leonhard Weiss -Isaft Litoral; Piatra Neamţ rail station, worth EUR 4.7 Million, with an execution period of 1 year and 5 months by the consortium Wiebe România-Radaria-Confer Group; Sf. Gheorghe rail station, contract estimated at EUR 5.97 Million, finalized in 1 year and 5 month by the consortium Wiebe România-Radaria-Confer Group; Vaslui railway station, with modernisation works estimated at EUR 5 Million, finalized in 1 year and 5 months by the consortium Arcada Company-Leonhard Weiss -Isaft Litoral and Piteşti railway station, with the modernisation works worth EUR 11.3 Million and finalizes in 2 years and 2 months by the consortium Unicon-Leonhard Weiss. “We will not make exception with the expectations we have from the constructors. I hope there will be no problems with the railway projects”, declared the Romanian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Anca Boagiu. Source (http://www.railwayinsider.eu/wp/archives/28640)

Winter Trains in Harsh Conditions @ București Nord Rail Station [January, 2012]

UY1Oa5bMZLg

150qy4DKSeA

The railway section has been recently open as upgraded for "high-speed": 160 km/h in the mountains.

somewhere in Ploiești..
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5563/imagine003t.jpg
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/3238/imagine002b.jpg
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/7572/imagine001w.jpg

EC to approve EUR 900 mln Romanian railway upgrade program


Alexandru Nazare, minister of Transportation, said, today, the European Commission (EC) has approved two major railway infrastructure projects worth EUR 900 million The announcement comes after the Romanian minister met with commissioner on regional policy Johannes Hahn.

The European funds will be used to upgrade 110 km of railway in Western Romania. Once these projects have been approved, reimbursements could already be made for approved contracts. Financing will also be ensured for projects that are in tendering stage.

Nazare told the EU commissioner that Romania's economy has been hit by hard by massive snow fall in recent week, and authorities should be allowed to purchase snow removal equipment from the EU funds allocated for transportation infrastructure.

Last year, reimbursements from Brussels for transportation infrastructure projects increased ten times compared to 2010. Source (http://business-review.ro/news/ec-to-approve-eur-900-mln-romanian-railway-upgrade-program/13377/)

Romanian Industrialist Will Deliver Railroad Cars To Brazil In EUR100M Contract
today, 00:00 By Tiron Mirabela

Valer Blidar, one of the leading Romanian industrialists, who controls railway car producer Astra Vagoane Calatori and founder of Banca Comerciala Feroviara, has won a EUR100 million contract at an auction organized in Brazil by Vale, one of the world’s largest companies, to deliver almost 100 railway cars. Source (http://www.zfenglish.com/companies/automotive/romanian-industrialist-will-deliver-railroad-cars-to-brazil-for-eur100m-9235697)


http://www.railway-technology.com/contractor_images/astra/5-astra.jpg


http://www.stiri.com.ro/img_mare/21547vagoane-astra-calatori-1.jpg

CFR Awards EUR250M Border-Arad Line Upgrade Contract
yesterday

Romanian railway administrator CFR SA has awarded a contract worth almost EUR250 million, for the upgrade of a 41.2 km rail line from the Hungarian border to the city of Arad, to the consortium Astaldi – Swietelsky – Alstom – Euro Construct – Dafora.Source (http://www.zfenglish.com/social-politics/cfr-awards-eur250m-border-arad-line-upgrade-contract-8956269)



^^

Works on Curtici-Arad electrified 160 km/h double-line line has started.

Something special - Arad Train Station modernisation project:

2 poze luate din acest articol (http://www.aradon.ro/unda-verde-la-reabilitarea-caii-ferate/1076071) referitor la modernizarea CF Arad-Curtici (pozele sunt cu statia Arad dupa modernizare):

http://www.aradon.ro/galerie/1862542/1862611.jpg

http://www.aradon.ro/galerie/1862542/1862614.jpg




:drool:


It's currently U/C, part of this:

CFR Awards EUR250M Border-Arad Line Upgrade Contract
10.11.2011

Romanian railway administrator CFR SA has awarded a contract worth almost EUR250 million, for the upgrade of a 41.2 km rail line from the Hungarian border to the city of Arad, to the consortium Astaldi – Swietelsky – Alstom – Euro Construct – Dafora. Source (http://www.zfenglish.com/social-politics/cfr-awards-eur250m-border-arad-line-upgrade-contract-8956269)

Romania gets green light from EC for EUR 940 mln railway track modernization

March 19, 2012 2:08 pm

Romania has received the green light from the European Commission for two railway projects worth EUR 944 million, most of which will be funded with EU money.

Funding will be available for revamping the railway connecting Romania’s Eastern Border to Curtici and further on to Arad, as well as for the Simeria-Coșlariu connection. Train speed will double on these tracks and railway traffic will be revived, according to Alexandru Nazare, Romania’s Transport Minister.

Of this amount, EUR 771 million will come from the Cohesion Fund.

Romania hopes to receive the OK for the EUR 900 million financing needed to repair the segment Coșlariu-Sighișoara, which would bring the value of ongoing railway work to some EUR 2 billion at the end of 2012.

The first railway segment, some 41.1 km of double railway will be repaired, to allow speeds of up to 160 km/hour. Railway stations in this section will also be renovated and refurbished.

Alstom Transport S.A., Swietelsky Baugesellsachaft m.b. H, Astaldi S.p.A, Euro Construct Trading ΄98 SRL and Dafora S.A. will work on this project, with a EUR 300 million value for the contract, over 27 months. Work started on March 15.

The Simeria-Coșlariu segment, some 74.4 km of railway track, will also be revamped. Ten railway stations will also be repaired, along with 33 bridges, six cuttings and a tunnel, all part of a EUR 184 million contract, over 30 months. The winning company for this public bid was Impressa Pizzarotti.

At the end of modernization work, the times on these routes will be shorter by 10 minutes for local trains, by 18 minutes for long distance trains and almost halved for freight trains. Source (http://www.romania-insider.com/romania-gets-green-light-from-ec-for-eur-940-mln-railway-track-modernization/52964/)

Good for Romania :applause:

Thanks! :cheers:

Indeed. Good to see that EE countries are investing big money in railways :cheers:

Alstom signs EUR 69 mln electrical systems contract with Romania’s railways company CFR
April 5, 2012 10:09 am

French group Alstom recently signed a EUR 69 million contract for supplying electrical and signaling systems for Romania’s railways company CFR SA, on the track connecting the Western border to Curtici and Arad. Alstom Transport Romania will be part of a consortium which will modernize the track, together with companies Swietelsky Bau Gesell Sachaft, Astaldi, Euro Construct Trading and Dafora. The total value of the contracts with these suppliers is of EUR 248 million excluding VAT. CFR announced the contract with the consortium earlier in February this year.

They should carry on work for the next one year and three months, adding a two-year guarantee period. CFR will use financing from the EU to cover 85 percent of the sum, the rest coming from the state budget and the Romanian Government.

[...] Source (http://www.romania-insider.com/alstom-signs-eur-69-mln-electrical-systems-contract-with-romanias-railways-company-cfr/54812/)

Gara de Nord to be connected to other train stations in Bucharest by a tunnel
18:33 | 11/04/2012

http://imageshack.us/a/img855/4046/9harta.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/9harta.jpg/)

Gara de Nord will be connected to Gara Obor and Gara de Sud train stations by a tunnel, which will be dug based on a collaboration memorandum between the ministries of transports of Romania and Belgium.

The government passed the memorandum on Wednesday. The document, signed September 22 last year, provides for cooperation on infrastructure works for the modernization, restoration and expansion of Bucharest transport infrastructure.

Works will also be conducted at Gara de Nord in order to make the train station a direct connection rather than an end station, according to a government press release.

The ministries of transport of Romania and Belgium will contribute directly with technical, executive and administrative support for the implementation of the project. Source (http://www.bucharestherald.ro/dailyevents/41-dailyevents/32310--gara-de-nord-va-fi-legat-de-alte-gri-din-bucureti-printr-un-tunel)

Romanian railways company GFR competes with Russian Railways for control in the Greek railways company:


Exclusive - European railway companies eye Greek network sale

(Reuters) - Three European railway companies are interested in buying all or part of Greece's railway business, as the debt-laden country sells assets to satisfy its lenders, people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

Russia is considering buying the entire Greek railway network and its operator Trainose, while Romania's largest private railway company, Grup Feroviar Roman (GFR), has expressed interest in the cargo business, two high-level Greek officials said.

A Russian Railways official said it had discussed buying all or part of the network, while its head Vladimir Yakunin told Reuters, "We're keeping in contact with the Greeks ... They haven't decided on the model yet, so it's too early to talk about our participation."

French railway company SNCF wants passenger and freight routes and has gone through a due diligence process, said one of the Greek officials, who attended associated meetings. Talks were held in Athens and Paris in 2010 and late 2011, when they reached the level of the transport ministry.

An SNCF spokesman in Paris said the French rail operator "is not in the running for the purchase of Trainose, nor is it in the running for the purchase of a railway company or a railway line in Greece".

No one was immediately available for comment at GFR, which owns freight operations in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia, among other countries.

One of the Greek officials said he had met several times with a delegation from GFR, most recently in February.

[...] REUTERS (http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/04/13/uk-greece-railways-idUKBRE83C0HD20120413)

CFR signed contracts worth EUR 183.5 M, from EU funds
BUSINESS | NINEOCLOCK | APRIL 26TH, 2012 AT 9:00 PM

CFR signed Thursday nine railroad modernisation contracts, worth approximately EUR 183.5 M in total, from European non-reimbursable funds. The total value of contracts signed by CFR within the Sectoral Operational Programme – Transport 2007-2013 amounts to approximately EUR 930 M, the Transport Ministry announces in a press release. The biggest contract, worth EUR 172 M (VAT exclusive) refers to the construction and equipping of the 36.6 km segment between the Micasasa and Coslariu stations, part of the Brasov – Simeria railroad situated along Pan-European Corridor IV. Source (http://www.nineoclock.ro/cfr-signed-contracts-worth-eur-183-5-m-from-eu-funds/)

Nice, Romania is at present the country in Southeast Europe working most vigorously to upgrade its network. however, the tunnel thing in Bucharest frightens me. Granted, it would be an improvement. But judging from other cities where similar projects are done/planned/u.c. (Berlin, Istanbul, Stuttgart, Leipzig), these kind of projects swallow up billions, take over a decade to construct, and end up gobbling up funds which could be used to make faster and more widespread progress elsewhere. And what sense is there in a direct link from Gara de Nord to the south if the direct route to Giurgiu remains out of service as it has for many years now?

^^ The line Bucharest - Giurgiu is out of service due to a long debate regarding which is more efficient: complete de new, more expensive bridge over Arges (has to do with the Bucharest - Danube canal), bridge which is under construction since 1988 or put back in service the old bridge damaged by flood in 2005. That is also expensive, considering the old bridge is over 100 years old and the damage to it was extensive.

But one way or the other, the railway Bucharest - Giurgiu is part of the IXth railway corridor, so it has to be put back in service eventually. Definitely before the completion of the tunel in Bucharest.

Therefore, since Bucuresti Nord will/should be a tranzit station on the IXth corridor, the tunel makes a lot of sense. Plus, by upgrading and reviving the other stations in Bucharest, mainly Bucuresti Progresu (south) and Bucuresti Obor (east), the railway traffic can get spread and the use of railway can increase without clogging Bucuresti Nord station, as it was in the "good old days".

None the less, for a city like Bucharest, the Bucharest North station has too few tracks with platforms: only 14. An there is no room to widen the station sideways. So the only room left is underground, next to the subway lines.

So, for Bucharest, this investment is very important in order to get the people back to the trains and out of their private cars, with all the benefits that come out of this.

CFR SA launches tender for the acquisition of signalling systems worth over EUR 100 Million

CFR SA has launched the tender for the execution of signalling equipments ERTMS, GSM-R, interlocking and Simeria Operating Control Centre, works included in the projects for the rehabilitation of Simeria-Braşov line, sections Coşlariu-Simeria and Coşlariu-Sighişoara.
The contract is estimated at RON 530.4 Million (EUR 120.3 Million), the finalization deadline being set 64 months (of which 24 month of guarantee) after the contract assignment. The project is financed through a non-reimbursable contribution from the European Commission (85%) and from the state budget (15%).
As regards the attribution criteria, the price of the offer weighs 80%, while the technical proposal 20%.
Offers will be submitted by June 26, 2012 and opened in the same day.

Source (http://www.railwayinsider.eu/wp/archives/34050)

I have question about DMU VT 624. That trains are still in use in Romania?
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/discoid21/vt_624_0016.jpg

In Poland (West Pomeranian) SA110 (VT624) (http://www.bluefish.foxnet.pl/Tabor/Spalinowe/SA110/Zdjecia/SA110-05%2801%29.jpg) from DB Regio go retired and i'm looking information about VT624 in Europe. Sorry for my bad english.

^^ I don't know the exact train model, but trains similar looking with this one are still in use at both CFR (state rail company) & RegioTrans (private rail company).

The VT 624 are only used in Romania by Transferoviar and are still in service, they have bought them together with a couple DB VT 614 DMU's. They also have a couple of Dutch DMUs/motorcars.

C-aELp_RRQQ

p1MtcXEMobc


The RegioTrans operates former French DMUs.

I have question about DMU VT 624. That trains are still in use in Romania?

In Poland (West Pomeranian) SA110 (VT624) (http://www.bluefish.foxnet.pl/Tabor/Spalinowe/SA110/Zdjecia/SA110-05%2801%29.jpg) from DB Regio go retired and i'm looking information about VT624 in Europe. Sorry for my bad english.

Huedin, 15.09.2011

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/4070/img0072lh.jpg

Railway modernization works completed in between Predeal and Bucharest (line + stations + platforms):



Poze noi de pe M300 (21 mai 2012). Lucrarile sint incheiate in cea mai mare parte insa daca ne uitam suficient de atent putem observa ca mai e de lucru la semnalizare.

Predeal, limita intre vechi si nou:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04563.jpg

Citeva indicatoare montate dar inca inactive:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04562.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04561.jpg

Panourile antifonice din dreptul pasajului DN1 au fost evident vizitate de mizgalici. Poate ii prinde vreun tren sa ii lecuiasca definitiv:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04558.jpg

Spre Azuga:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04556.jpg

Azuga. Linia a doua (directa spre Bucuresti) nu are peron:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04551.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04550.jpg

Spre Busteni, in locul care ii place lui Vancouvero :) :

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04544.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04540.jpg

Busteni:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04537.jpg

Doua persoane s-au incapatinat sa coboare pe partea cu gard:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04536.jpg

Spre Poiana Tapului:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04532.jpg

Poiana Tapului:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04531.jpg

Din dreptul acestui canton abandonat pornea cindva o linie industriala catre o statie de betoane:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04528.jpg

Zona neutra (?)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04527.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04524.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04520.jpg

Sinaia. Toate becurile de la semnalele de manevra functioneaza!

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04518.jpg

A1746 de la Satu Mare intra in statia Sinaia condus de 41-0567-2 fara nici un minut intirziere:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04914.jpg

Plecam cu el mai departe spre Bucuresti:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04915.jpg

Valea Larga:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04921.jpg

Drumul serpuieste spre Posada:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04923.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04932.jpg

Posada. Inca un pas spre distrugerea cladirii - locatarul din spate si-a pus termopan alb, asta dupa cel anul trecut vecinul de la parter a zugravit in alta culoare:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04933.jpg

Salcimi in floare. Mirosul nu se simte in vagonul incubator:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04936.jpg

Trenul goneste spre Comarnic:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04937.jpg

si ajunge la timp:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04940.jpg

Plecam mai departe, spre Cimpina:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04947.jpg

Acumulatorii se descarca tocmai la timp ca sa nu pot poza locul unde doua segmente de sina nu au fost imbinate pe aceeasi axa. Din acest motiv vagoanele capata un balans suparator. Nu s-a remediat. Locul e dupa curba din imagine:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04959.jpg

Alte indicatoare, deocamdata nici ele in functiune:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04968.jpg

Ajungem la Cimpina, la timp:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04974.jpg

Si mai stam putin:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff4/tozlovanuvlad/Divers/Lucrari%20CF%20SInaia%20-%20Cimpina/mai_2012/DSC04975.jpg

Pina la Bucuresti nu s-a mai acumulat nici un minut intirziere, am ajuns exact la ora stabilita.

Good to see that Romania is investing in both motorways and railways :cheers:

Belgium to support upgrading Bucharest North Station under public-private partnership
Tuesday, July 3, 2012


Belgium will support Romania developing the North Station of Bucharest City under the first infrastructure public-private partnership in Romania.

The Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MTI) reports that Transport Minister Ovidiu Silaghi welcomed Belgium ambassador in Bucharest Philippe Beke to discuss the partnership.

At the meeting, the minister voiced the interest of the ministry and the CFR SA national railway corporation of Romania in continuing a beneficial cooperation partnership in the field of infrastructure works for the upgrading, rehabilitation and expansion of the railway infrastructure in the Bucharest area, including the North Station Complex and truing the North Station into a modern European railway concept.

Talks also focused on the implementation measures to be taken so that the partnership may allow the development of a viable project that will provide modern travelling and transiting conditions that will boost the revenues of CFR.

'The Bucharest North Complex is the most important railway hub that facilitates linkage to the pan-European transport corridors and by upgrading the North Station we will be bringing a significant contribution to the development and modernisation of the transport infreastructure around the city. By continuing cooperation with Belgium to upgrade the North Station, we are expressing our determination to carry through this major project that will live up to the European standards for traveller's accessibility,' Minister Silaghi told the meting.

In September 2011, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Bucharest between the ministry and the Belgium Ministry of Mobility concerning cooperation in infrastructure works for the modernisation, rehabilitation and expansion of the railway infrastructure around Bucharest City, including the North Station Complex, the most important station in the Romanian sector of the pan-European Railway Transport Corridors IV and IX.

The document provides for the upgrading of the railway infrastructure of Bucharest City and linking the North Station to the South Station and the Obor Station via a tunnel.

A Romanian-Belgian company to be set up in 2012 will take care of the project design and funding. http://actmedia.eu/economic/infrastructure-belgium-to-support-upgrading-bucharest-north-station-under-public-private-partnership/40829

Works have started at Sighișoara - Ațel section of Pan-European Corridor IV. Contractor is the joint-venture FCC/Alpine/Azvi; the old electrified double-track railway will be upgraded and in some places relocated on a totally new alignment to provide speeds of 160km/h. That's the case between Sighișoara and Daneș, where two tunnels and a 1km long viaduct will be built.

- exit from Sighișoara towards Târgu Mureș: here is the end of first tunnel (around 300m) and starting point for the viaduct over national road DN13:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9307/picture007custom.jpg
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/161/420custom.jpg

- into the distance can be seen the work site for the second tunnel (around 800m); the viaduct will be built between that point and the location from where I took the photos:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4548/421custom.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7129/picture008custom.jpg

- exit from first tunnel will be in the small hill on the left side of the crane:

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7325/425custom.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3619/424custom.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1189/422custom.jpg

- works at the entrance of second tunnel:

http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/2601/439custom.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3696/375custom.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7786/376custom.jpg
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2329/377custom.jpg
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/2228/378custom.jpg

- works near Daneș, at the exit of second tunnel:

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9302/427custom.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2720/428custom.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3638/430custom.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7711/431custom.jpg

^^ Thank you for the pictures nenea_hartia :cheers: I'm glad to see that the railway infrastructure of our country is improving.

Hello,
According to http://www.railwayinsider.eu/wp/archives/39259 CFR will operate on the upgraded railway ring around Bucharest.
Is there any map available of this ring?
And which trains will be diverted over this ring?
Multumesc, Theijs

nenea_hartia,please,show me on the map,where the new track will lead

nenea_hartia,please,show me on the map,where the new track will lead
Unfortunately I couldn't find any map. However, I've made a .kmz file (http://dl.transfer.ro/transfer_ro-16aug-9f321e6556.zip) instead. Please, save it to your machine and use Google Earth to open it. I hope it is comprehensive.

@Theijs: I have posted your question here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=94246111&postcount=6169), inside the Romanian forums. I hope someone will answer.

Hello,
According to http://www.railwayinsider.eu/wp/archives/39259 CFR will operate on the upgraded railway ring around Bucharest.
Is there any map available of this ring?
And which trains will be diverted over this ring?
Multumesc, Theijs

Here's a map I've made of the Bucharest Railroad Complex. It's simplified, but it covers all the active (and presumably active) tracks in Bucharest, including the ring.

http://i.imgur.com/Bbf1A.jpg

Red line + Red dashed line - Double track, Electrified, 25 kV, 50 Hz.
Red line - Electrified track, 25 kV, 50 Hz.

Blue line + Blue dashed line - Double track, Non-electrified
Blue line - Non-electrified track.

Green Line (dashed) - Industrial track, unclear if still in use.

I don't live in Romania nowadays, but I'm 99.9% sure the map is fully accurate.

Thank you very much for your quick response frunzaverde!
Let's see how the infrastructure will develop over time...

Dusters onboard of a freight train probably on way to Constanta:

http://imageshack.us/a/img849/9392/daciatrain.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/849/daciatrain.jpg/)

^^

Dusters?

Please explain.

^^

http://www.dacia.co.uk/vehicles/duster/explore/

+


Ford B-MAX on rail:

jwPs69gQ35U&feature

nothing new about romanian railways?

nothing new about romanian railways?

Phoenix no.3 for DB Schenker Rail Romania (http://www.railcolor.net/index.php?nav=1407920&lang=1)

CFR Awards RON500M Railway Upgrade Contract
yesterday, 17:22 By Ecaterina Craciun

Romania’s state-owned railway company CFR has awarded a contract worth 498.2 million lei (EUR113.6 million), net of VAT, for upgrades on rail sections Coslariu (Alba county) - Simeria (Hunedoara county) and Coslariu - Sighisoara (Mures county).http://www.zfenglish.com/companies/automotive/cfr-awards-ron500m-railway-upgrade-contract-10535831

EU Approves EUR751M Financing For Romanian Railway Upgrade
yesterday, 18:13

The European Commission on Thursday approved financing of EUR751 million to Romania for the upgrade of a railway section that will cost EUR884 million.http://www.zfenglish.com/companies/automotive/eu-approves-eur751m-financing-for-romanian-railway-upgrade-10536109

EUR 751 million investment in Western Romania railroad lines

The European Commission has approved a EUR 751 million investment project, financed by the cohesion fund, for works on the Sighisoara-Coslariu railroad line, which is part of the Brasov-Simeria route. The purpose of this project is to improve the transport of passengers and freight in western and central Romania. The main beneficiaries will be the Mures, Sibiu and Alba counties, whose increased accessibility will make them more attractive to investors. http://fic.ro/newsletter-net/index.php?section=newsfront&luna=february&an=2013&numar=1.php#link3.1

http://fic.ro/newsletter-net/index.php?section=newsfront&luna=february&an=2013&numar=1.php#link3.1

It's nice that the EU invests into the infrastucture - but nobody seems to care about the output of this investments for the passengers.

The line Bucuresti - Constanta was upgraded with lots of EU money. Top speed 160 km/h.


Due to copper theft the signalization is disabled already since months on many parts of the line, which caused massive train delays (due to speed restrictions).
Passengers went away and now CFR cancelled the IC-trains between Bucuresti and Constanta due to poor ridership, see http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/locale/intercity-nu-mai-circula-pe-ruta-bucuresti-constanta-vezi-de-cand-292040.html
(a German report: http://www.adz.ro/lokales/artikel-lokales/artikel/intercity-zwischen-bukarest-und-konstanza-gestrichen/, sorry I didn't find an English one)

Nobody seems to take care about the infrastructure once the line has been renovated, and there seems to be no money to replace the missing copper parts.
And also before the problems with speed limits appeared, there were only a few IC-services per day - that's nothing compared to the investment. Such a line would need hourly service or at least a service every 2 hrs.... but what's the sense of the investments, if train service continue to be so unattractive, that passengers still prefer stupid (micro)buses?!

Nobody in Brussels seems to take care about the output of such infrastructure investmenst from the passeneger's point of view...
Under such circumstances any further investment into the Romanian rail infrastructure is - unfortunately - for nothing...

Sorry for the hard words - usually I like to see when railways lines in Easzern Europa are upgraded with EU money - but not under such circumstances...


Nachalnik

It's very difficult to guard the infrastructure on its entire lenght. The article says the ministry of transportation will place gendarmes on the route to prevent theft, so let's see if that will help. This is not a new problem in Romania, we have some parts of population who lives off theft and destruction of public property, and thus placing the lives of other people at risk. :ohno:

However, that should not prevent investment in infrastructure. The same was hapenning on Bucharest-Constanta motorway, where the protection fence was being regularly stolen. The ministry hired private security who now patrols the entire motorway. Thefts were reduced significantly since then.

Why not install fiberoptics? It does not have the same value as copper conductors on the market. After the first theft or two the thieves (we all know who they are) will surely stop all the mess.

Why not install fiberoptics? It does not have the same value as copper conductors on the market. After the first theft or two the thieves (we all know who they are) will surely stop all the mess.

The Romanian government investes exactly 0 (zero) of its money into rail-related activities, except some co-financing to EU modernization schemes. There is more or less no work on maintenance. If a 800.000.000 EUR EU co-financed railway has EUR 2.000.000 worth of damage, the damage is there to stay for months or years, regardless.

So far, Romania has failed to improve travel conditions on any segment of railways of any serious length. It is probably the only country in Europe where by and large all major lines operate at slower speeds than 25 years ago.

So far, Romania has failed to improve travel conditions on any segment of railways of any serious length. It is probably the only country in Europe where by and large all major lines operate at slower speeds than 25 years ago.
Unfortunately Romania is in good company with other CEE countries.

Unfortunately Romania is in good company with other CEE countries.

What does CEE stand for?

Some countries in the Eastern Europe, most notably Poland, have improved their railways considerably.

What does CEE stand for?
Central and East Europe, but actually I mean SEE, South-Eastern Europe.

Theijs

What does CEE stand for?

Some countries in the Eastern Europe, most notably Poland, have improved their railways considerably.

+1 As did Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia or Ukraine. The worse performers are probably Romania and Serbia.

The worse performers are probably Romania and Serbia.
Do not forget Bosnia, Macedonia, and Bulgaria, all of which have failed to invest from their own budget or keep maintenance of the existing infrastructure or stock.
Romania looks much better than any of those countries. Trains are as a rule either fairly new or in good shape, stations are in good shape, and services are acceptable. At least it has made good use of EU investments. But to see that all that money just goes to waste because some repairs or a security watch seem too expensive is of course horrible. On another forum people were speculating that CFR board members actually have private profit from bus companies, letting them wish for advantages for buses over the train. How long would a trip Bucharest-Constanta be if the signal technology was upgraded?

On another forum people were speculating that CFR board members actually have private profit from bus companies, letting them wish for advantages for buses over the train.


Source for that:
http://stirileprotv.ro/special/interesele-ascunse-care-ingroapa-o-investitie-de-1-miliard-eur-cum-a-fost-anulat-intercity-buc-ct.html
(in Romanian, but google-translatable)



How long would a trip Bucharest-Constanta be if the signal technology was upgraded?

According to the timetable it should have taken 2,5hrs before the copper thefts. But that's still with just 140 km/h and some other speed limits.
With 160 km/h on the whole line, the 225 km-trip should not take more than 2 hrs.

Compared with Bulgaria, Serbia or Bosnia the railway in Romania is much better, especially the rolling stock.
But to be better than the railways of those countries - well, that's not really a challenge.
The problem in many Eastern countries is often the mindset of politicians, but also of many ordinary people: Railway is seen as old-fashioned communist way of transportation for poor people, any normal person doesn't use trains but has to own a big car. Some Eastern European countries seem to want to make the same mistakes in transportation politics, which were done in Western countries in the 60ies and 70ies....

But:
"A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transportation."
((C) Petro Gustavo, mayor of Bogota, Colombia)

It's very difficult to guard the infrastructure on its entire lenght. The article says the ministry of transportation will place gendarmes on the route to prevent theft, so let's see if that will help. This is not a new problem in Romania, we have some parts of population who lives off theft and destruction of public property, and thus placing the lives of other people at risk. :ohno:

However, that should not prevent investment in infrastructure. The same was hapenning on Bucharest-Constanta motorway, where the protection fence was being regularly stolen. The ministry hired private security who now patrols the entire motorway. Thefts were reduced significantly since then.

Isn't the railway line and the new motorway running next to each other most of the time so they could be patrolled at the same time? At least that is what I remember from last summer.

As I see it: If the stolen copper isn't replaced within months, the thefts as such are not even the biggest problem. What a shame.

Source for that:
http://stirileprotv.ro/special/interesele-ascunse-care-ingroapa-o-investitie-de-1-miliard-eur-cum-a-fost-anulat-intercity-buc-ct.html
(in Romanian, but google-translatable)




According to the timetable it should have taken 2,5hrs before the copper thefts. But that's still with just 140 km/h and some other speed limits.
With 160 km/h on the whole line, the 225 km-trip should not take more than 2 hrs.

Compared with Bulgaria, Serbia or Bosnia the railway in Romania is much better, especially the rolling stock.
But to be better than the railways of those countries - well, that's not really a challenge.
The problem in many Eastern countries is often the mindset of politicians, but also of many ordinary people: Railway is seen as old-fashioned communist way of transportation for poor people, any normal person doesn't use trains but has to own a big car. Some Eastern European countries seem to want to make the same mistakes in transportation politics, which were done in Western countries in the 60ies and 70ies....

But:
"A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transportation."
((C) Petro Gustavo, mayor of Bogota, Colombia)

Well, trains in Romania are much nicer than in Bulgaria or Serbia or Macedonia, that is true. Practically all inter-regional and inter-city trains have air-conditioning, most have plugs for laptops, even some rural lines now have air-conditioned trains.

Stations are on par with the ones in the region, save for a few exceptions. Some rural ones are falling apart and th

However, the lines are often worse. The average speed on the main lines is, in fact, smaller than in Bulgaria. So while you have a hideous car o

As for the mindset, it is both true and stupid. As your run-of-the-mill office worker, whenever I am sent on delegations, I opt for the train as the car represents wasted time. I cannot afford to lose 8 hours return on driving, when I can work the same ammount of time on my laptop and reach my workplace targets faster (thus not pushing the workload that I cannot do while traveling all over the rest of my week). Still, if those 8 hours of driving become 14 hours return on a train, things become very different as working on the train still doesn't make up for the lost office time.

Alcatel Lucent, Alstom and Pas 97 land EUR 1.1 B railroad contract

The Ministry of Transportation signed on Friday with CFR SA a financing contract worth RON 4.98 billion (EUR 1.1 billion) for the rehabilitation of the Sighisoara-Coslariu (Alba) railway line, with a length of 89.5 kilometers. The contract is co-financed by the European Union with EUR 740 million. CFR has selected in the beginning of the year the consortium Alstom Transport - Alcatel Lucent Romania - PAS 97 for modernization works on the railway sections Coslariu (Alba) - Simeria (Hunedoara) and Coslariu - Sighisoara (Mures), with a bid of RON 498.2 million, VAT not included. (Romanian Source)http://www.fic.ro/newsletter-net/index.php?section=newsfront&luna=february&an=2013&numar=11.php#link3.0

I ask you about the height of the catenary?

my question is about Double Stacking Train, is it possible to make this standard in future?




http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/19/tninirdoublestackpantog.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/tninirdoublestackpantog.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/24/heartlandcorridorva1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/heartlandcorridorva1.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/132/dttx72468120050529ilroc.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/132/dttx72468120050529ilroc.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/685/doublestackrail.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/doublestackrail.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/16/doublestackcarbran4708.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/16/doublestackcarbran4708.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/716/clip3i.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/clip3i.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/24/clipklt.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/clipklt.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/585/cajonintermodal.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/cajonintermodal.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/571/atsf248.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/571/atsf248.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/11/42236821179770588424o.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/42236821179770588424o.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/scaled/thumb/703/56191290558928.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/56191290558928.jpg/)

intreb deoarece vreau sa stiu daca in viitor se poate adopta si la noi Double Stacking Train
This is the international section of SSC, so use English please. :)

=========

Few pics of undergoing works on Pan-European Rail Corridor IV near Sighișoara. For few kilometers, the entire railway will be moved on a new alignment, because the old one has too many curves and cannot handle speeds of 160km/h. Two new tunnels and a bridge over river Târnava Mare will be built:

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2664/foto271a.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/129/foto272uh.jpg
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4434/foto275i.jpg
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1431/foto276p.jpg

- works on the other side of the hill, at the tunnel's exit:

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/6939/foto230u.jpg
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1289/foto231p.jpg
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7260/foto232s.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/188/foto233e.jpg

- heavy machinery at the second tunnel, near the hill of Daneș:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1496/img3109ha.jpg
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2387/img3110wb.jpg
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1303/img3111mo.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9594/img3116ag.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8015/img3117ys.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4081/img3118oq.jpg

From Railway Insider, 21st February 2013


Grup Feroviar Român shortlisted in the sale of BDZ Cargo


Grup Feroviar Român announced having been shortlisting for the sale of BDZ Cargo and entering the next stage of procedures.

GFR has received the official notification from the Bulgarian Privatisation Agency which confirmed that the company had met qualification requirements and was admitted to continue participating in the privatisation process on the short list.

“Having been admitted to continue in the privatisation process of BZD Cargo is a proof that GFR is an important player in the region and throughout Europe”, the Group’s President Gruia Stoica said.

He also underlined the importance of developing a regional operator capable to unify the railway freight transport activities in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania.

works on Arad-Curtici sector, Glogovat-Cicir 13/03/2013

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/8250/districtt.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/districtt.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/6835/districtea.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/districtea.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/3674/84466132.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/715/84466132.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

photo: DistrictEA

source:http://www.forumtrenuri.com/t2235p120-lucrari-de-reabilitare-pe-m200-curtici-coslariu (http://www.forumtrenuri.com/t2235p120-lucrari-de-reabilitare-pe-m200-curtici-coslariu)

Nice touchdown by Astra Arad in Iraq, after the EUR 100 million Brasil contract for rail cars (http://actmedia.eu/daily/rail-car-maker-astra-vagoane-arad-back-in-brazil-after-20-years/38439):

Astra Vagoane to build trains and railways in Iraq
BUSINESS | NINEOCLOCK | MARCH 17TH, 2013 AT 9:00 PM

An Iraqi delegation made up of several senior ministerial officials signed a Memorandum in Baghdad on Tuesday, with officials at Romanian Astra train manufacturer, Mediafax, which reproduced an Al-Shorfa quote of Salam al-Quraishi, a government economic adviser. The joint venture specializing in passenger train manufacturing will be based in al-Samawa, southern Iraq.

“The company will overhaul the rail infrastructure in Iraq, in co-operation with the Ministry of Transport, in a first stage after being set up. In four years’ time, the construction will begin of a railway network between Basra and Western Iraq, to cross various provinces,” he said. A working team from Romania and Iraq will begin planning technical, financial and legal aspects of the company. “The process should be completed within 30 days at the latest, after which the actual proceedings will begin for setting up the company,” the Iraqi official said.

After an early last February meeting between Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian and Astra Vagoane owner Valer Blidar, Vosganian announced the company sent passenger carriages, trams and automotors in Iraq and Turkmenistan, the offer including revamp services and rolling stock repairs.http://www.nineoclock.ro/astra-vagoane-to-build-trains-and-railways-in-iraq/


Well done Astra! :cheers:

Nice touchdown by Astra Arad in Iraq

Is Irak really stable enough again now to envision building railways and
running trains ? If not, this might just be a lot of money wasted, and
large risks for the contracting company...

Ghioroc-Cicir 19/03/13 (Curtici km655+185 - km 614 section)

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/7585/ghioroccicir19313.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/715/ghioroccicir19313.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/1661/ghioroc.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/ghioroc.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

photos by DistrictEA
source:


Arad station, on the left the construction of the new rail terminal

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/89699830.jpg/]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8774/89699830.jpg (http://www.forumtrenuri.com/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

photo: Sergiu rmn
source:

a guest in Arad station

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/hungg.jpg/]http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8699/hungg.jpg (http://www.forumtrenuri.com/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)



photo: DistrictEa
source: [URL="http://www.forumtrenuri.com/"]

Say wha...at?

Linia de cale ferată de mare viteză Budapesta-Constanţa, din nou în actualitate

Linia de mare viteză Budapesta-Bucureşti-Constranţa, despre care se discută încă din 2007, este din nou printre priorităţile CFR. Compania şi-a bugetat anul acesta pentru această linie 10 milioane de lei pentru studii de prefezabilitate.

http://www.economica.net/linia-de-mare-viteza-budapesta-constanta-din-nou-in-actualitate-investitia-este-bugetata_48180.html

Commission approves major EUR 34 million co-investment to improve railway connections in South Romania

The European Commission has approved an investment of € 34 million from the Cohesion Fund for the upgrading of two Danube bridges railway bridges, Borcea and Cernavoda in order to complete the rehabilitation of the railway line Bucharest-Constanta in the Romanian South development region.

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/hahn/projects/index_en.cfm?setid=610#610#page-1

We are going to build Sofia-Vidin railway for 200km/h by 2017 as said local newspaper. It will cost 2.5 bln euro. From Calafat when are you planning to start construction? I've heard about over 3 bln euro price.

We are going to build Sofia-Vidin railway for 200km/h by 2017 as said local newspaper. It will cost 2.5 bln euro. From Calafat when are you planning to start construction? I've heard about over 3 bln euro price.

Strange decision for this speeds... Isn't it the line from Vidin part of the new freight corridor VII ? The Calafat-Craiova line will be built between 2014-2020 but I cannot say exactly in wich period... From Craiova to Timisoara is the same situation...

Few pictures taken today from Arad railway station (currently under modernisation thanks to Arad-Curtici railway project).

There will be a pedestrian overpass over the lines:

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY0Njc3Nzc,/p/800/2013-05-003.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY0ODdiYTY,/p/800/2013-05-004.jpg

In this picture you can clearly see that right now lanes 1, 2 and 3 are used, while the rest are closed for the works:

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY0OWJlNzc,/p/800/2013-05-005.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1MDdhNmI,/p/800/2013-05-006.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1MWE2YTc,/p/800/2013-05-007.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1MmE3N2I,/p/800/2013-05-008.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1M2U2ZTc,/p/800/2013-05-009.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1NDc2NmI,/p/800/2013-05-010.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1Njc3NmI,/p/800/2013-05-012.jpg

Here comes a romanian freight train...

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1NWVhYjY,/p/800/2013-05-011.jpg

... or is it austrian?

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1N2U3NzY,/p/800/2013-05-013.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY1OWU2NjY,/p/800/2013-05-015.jpg

http://pics-akamai.slickpic.com/MzM2MzlhNmU3N2I2Nw,,/20130502/NDI5MzY2MWFiNjc,/p/800/2013-05-016.jpg

That's all for now.