“Romania will develop, by 2050, a high-speed rail line from the west to south-east to meet objectives stipulated in the White Paper of Transport, (a EU document on transport systems). In 2014-2020 period necessary studies and the technical project are expected to be accomplished”.
The information is included in the consultative document on the Large Infrastructure Operating Program (POIM) which in 2014-2020 period replaces the current POS-T program for transports through which Romania gets money from the EU for infrastructure-EUR4.5 billion between 2007-2013, from which it has so far drawn EUR1.4 billion. In this context, the situation is worsening.
In the past four years, the average speed at which passenger trains travel has added only one km/h, to just 45 km/h, while the average speed of freight trains went from 24 km/h in 2010 to 28 km/h last year, according to Transport Ministry statistical data.
This is one of the causes that led to falling demand for travel by train. Passenger traffic slid by 30% in 2012 against 2008, according to ZF calculations.
There are no signs rail infrastructure will be modernized this year, either.
Because of low speed, Romania also stands to lose in terms of freight transportation.
In January-September 2013, 36.2 million tons of commodities were transported by rail, while in 2012 total volumes amounted to 55.7 million tons.
“A lot of commodities shun Romania because of poor infrastructure. Rail is currently an unexploited resource. It is more of a break right now,” said Mihnea Ioan, general manager of Havi Logistics Romania.
Low rail transportation speed makes beneficiaries choose road transportation.
The passenger rail transportation market amounted to some EUR500 million in 2012 and the freight one revolved around EUR700 million. The former is divided between state-owned operator CFR Calatori, with EUR379 million in revenue, losses of EUR225 million and 13,600 employees in 2012 and private companies Regiotrans, Transferoviar Calatori, Regional and another small players.
The freight market is divided between CFR Marfa state-owned company and several private players, with only five companies posting revenue of above EUR30 million.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)