ROMANIA: Railway reform authority ARF has handed over two six-car Coradia Stream electric multiple-units to private operator InterRegional Călători.
Based in Cluj-Napoca, the subsidiary of transport company Via Terra Group was awarded a public service obligation contract by ARF in December following a competitive tender. It has been selected to operate inter-regional services on the following routes until December 2028:
- București Nord – Brașov (– Sighișoara – Cluj-Napoca);
- Brașov – Miercurea Ciuc – Deda – Cluj-Napoca;
- Cluj-Napoca – Deva – Arad – Timișoara Nord.
ARF has agreed to allocate 13 of its 37 Coradia Stream EMUs to InterRegional Călători for use on these services. The units were ordered from Alstom in two batches in 2022.
The remaining 24 Coradia Stream EMUs are being allocated to CFR Călători, which was awarded tendered PSO contracts in December 2023 and December 2025 to operate inter-regional services throughout the country until December 2028. The national operator had taken delivery of 10 units by the end of February.
- Read our feature article about ARF’s wider market reform strategy and rolling stock purchases in the July 2024 issue of Railway Gazette International.
