“The state of the Romania railway infrastructure is far from being what we need to ensure quality transport at affordable prices and to contribute to the country’s economic development,” Chinde said at the conference “Mediafax Talks about Transport&Logistics”.
While Asia has become an important partner for the European Union, more and more transports avoid Romania, they are diverted to Croatia or go straight to western EU ports, despite Constanta port being a more viable option, Chinde explained.
Grup Feroviar Roman is the largest private freight railway operator in Romania and a top competitor in Central and Southeastern Europe.
GFR is part of group Grampet, controlled by businessman Gruia Stoica. It has recently been declared winner of an auction to sell state-owned freight railway carrier CFR Marfa and will pay EUR202 million for a majority stake in the company.