ROMANIA: The national railway reform authority ARF announced on May 14 that it had signed an addendum to its contract with Pesa Bydgoszcz, which was confirmed in June 2024 and covered the delivery of 20 type RE-IR2 InterRegio EMUs. The amendment provides for the purchase of an additional nine inter-regional electric multiple-units.
The deal includes the provision of maintenance for 15 years for all 29 trainsets. The option is being financed through the EU’s Modernisation Fund and it takes the value of the deal to 1·6bn lei in total.
Delivery of the first trainset is scheduled for September, and the handover of all 29 is expected by the end of 2027.
The inter-regional EMUs will be capable of 160 km/h operation, and they will have a capacity of 191 seated passengers. They are to be equipped with onboard equipment for ETCS, as well as for Romania’s PZB 90 train protection system.
First regional EMU unveiled
Meanwhile, on May 22, Pesa unveiled the first of 62 three-car Regio160 regional EMUs it is supplying for ARF under a separate contract. The vehicles are intended to be used on regional routes in the areas of București, Cluj-Napoca, and Suceava.
The regional EMUs are designed for 160 km/h operation. The trains are 77·2 m long, and have capacity for 465 passengers, 238 of which can be seated, including 14 folding seats.
‘This contract is a major challenge for us, especially due to the very short delivery times. That’s why it’s particularly satisfying that the first vehicle has arrived in Romania on schedule. Immediately after the presentation, we’re heading to Făurei test facility to begin test runs for certification’, said Maciej Maciejewski, Pesa’s Vice President for Sales.
- Go deeper: Read our feature article about ARF’s rolling stock purchase and wider strategy in the July 2024 issue of Railway Gazette International.
