The auction will be organized at the headquarters of the Romanian Commodities Exchange (BRM).
The railway sections that will be leased are: Ploiesti Crang – Ploiesti Vest, Ploiesti Vest – Targoviste Nord – Fieni – Pietrosita, Ditesti – Gura Palangii, I.L. Caragiale – Ditesti, Buda – Slanic, Ploiesti Nord – Maneciu, Oravita – Anina, Oravita – Iam, Sebes Alba – Petrestii de Padure, Dornesti – Gura Putnei – Putna, Gura Humorului – Darmanesti, Dornisoara – Floreni and Crasna – Husi.
The contract will run for four years. Contract awarding criteria will consider the highest price. Bidders have until May 2 to submit offers.
The auction winner will also have to take on the CFR staff employed by these sections.
Romania’s Government decided last year to lease 1,000 km of public railroad and close another 1,000 km, in an effort to save 109 million lei (EUR25 million) from the railway company budgets, as per an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
The Government has promised the IMF to close 20% of the country’s railroad network, about 4,000 kilometers of railway lines, unless it finds investors to ensure their maintenance. (EUR1=RON4.3778)