All operators providing rail passenger transport services need approval from the railroad infrastructure operator CFR SA, to which they pay a fee to use the railroad network, and the government provides subsidies to railroad carriers.
“I decided to go into passenger transportation because I am unhappy with the rail transport in Romania, everybody chooses to travel by car while in Europe rail transport is very modern,” the businessman said.
Blidar had a six-carriage train plus a locomotive built to operate on the Arad-Bucharest route as of the second half of January, and the plan is to add Arad-Constanta in the summer, then Timisoara-Baia Mare and Timisoara-Vienna by yearend.
“We will work with two passenger trains, we can operate in Europe, as well,” the entrepreneur said.
The largest railroad carrier is state-run CFR Calatori, and Blidar’s competition also includes several private carriers, such as Regiotrans Brasov, the largest private carrier and Transferoviar Calatori.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)