​It has been 17 years since the Bucharest – Giurgiu trains detoured through Videle, because the Hradištia bridge still hasn’t been repaired. Fortunately, the bridge is in the works, but until it’s ready, the train journey will be very long and difficult between the two cities, which are only an hour away from each other. In 1980, there were trains that ran in 76 minutes. I’m doing over 150 now.

How to get around Bucharest – Giurgiu

Since 2005, after the collapse of the Hradishtia bridge, trains no longer run on a direct line between the two cities. This is one of the clear proofs of Romania’s powerlessness to restore the infrastructure, because for 13-14 years there were discussions, promises and feasibility studies, but the bridge was not restored. Work began in 2021, and there are also plans to electrify the line in the following years.

Bucharest – Giurgiu – the first railway line opened in the Romanian principalities. On November 1, 1869, the line Bucharest Filaret – Giurgiu (70 km) was opened.

There are now two direct trains between the two cities, taking over two and a half hours for the 115 km via Videle. In the 90s, there were 2-3 express trains a day between Bucharest Nord and Giurgiu and eight personal trains on the 58 km between Progresu Station and Giurgiu.

One of the Regio București Nord Giurgiu trains takes 3 hours 3 minutes with 23 intermediate stops. This is a lot, the average speed is less than 40 km/h.

In these conditions, the only public transport option is minibuses, there are two per hour, and the fastest journey is 70 minutes.

In the 90s, when many railway lines had much higher speeds than today, the trains were not very fast between Bucharest and Giurgiu: Express trains went from Bucharest Nord to Giurgiu Nord in 85-95 minutes, while private trains took 80 minutes 58 km between Bucharest Progress and Giurgiu railway stations.

When will traffic resume?

Lot 1, which includes the construction of the fourth bridge, is 32% complete, with a completion date of 2023.

What has already been done for the reconstruction of the bridge over Argesh

– all bridge supports, including viaduct supports, have been completed

– buried rubber bands

– reinforcement, formwork and concreting of pile ledges are being carried out

– in the process of finalizing the plastered walls

– floor execution in factory conditions

“I wish and hope that the pace of work and the progress of execution recorded on the railway section between Vidra and Comana will be maintained in this upward trend, and from next year, with the resumption of traffic on the new railway bridge from Gradistea, the Bucharest – Giurgiu Route will become profitable a transport alternative for both travelers and passengers, as well as for freight carriers, which we want to attract from the road zone to the railway,” says Ion Simu Alexandru, CEO of CFR SA.

“2023 is the year when we plan to launch a tender for the modernization of the railway line on the section Bucharest North – Jilava – Giurgiu North – Giurgiu North Border – LOT II -, a project worth 4 billion lei, from non-refundable funds, which includes not only the modernization of the line to increase the speed of movement to 120 km/h, as well as the electrification of the line, the introduction of electronic centralization systems, including the ERTMS level 2 system,” the message says. the official.

The feasibility study for Lot II will be completed by December 2022, and next year a tender will be announced for the design and implementation of works on the modernization of the railway line, which provides a direct connection between Bucharest – via Gradisteia – Ruse, via the southern border.

Which includes lot 1

Infrastructure/superstructure works for 12.02 km (Vidra station, from km 18+180 – Comana station, km 30+200), artistic works and related works along the entire route.

ARTWORKS

– the bridge over the Sabar River km 18+272 – the new deck will have a span of 45 m

– the bridge over the Sabar River km 18+411 – the new deck will have a span of 45 m

– the bridge over the Arges River, between km 23+456 – km 23+747, including approach viaducts (right bank – direction Giurgiu – 27 openings and left bank – direction Bucharest – 8 openings), total length of the bridge – 1362.10 m ;

– the bridge over the Neylov River between km 28+364 – km 28+434 – the new deck will have a span of 70 m

Ten bridges will also be built.

KOAMANA NATURE PARK (protected area)

– 10 subcrossings (type C2) for small mammals

– 89 crossings (on the superstructure of the road) for amphibians and reptiles

NEW CIVIL BUILDINGS: Grădiștea and Comana stations

RELATED WORKS on the line CF Bucuresti Nord – Jilava – Giurgiu Nord – Giurgiu Nord Frontierǎ

– replacement of sleepers, replacement of rail-sleeper clamps, replacement/replenishment of track apparatus units, backfilling of crushed stone, replacement of elastic or concrete slabs at crossings, cleaning of trenches and pits along the line, etc.

– sanitary treatment of passenger and technical buildings (CED building) from all stations and stops on the route – roof repair, interior and exterior painting, individual air conditioners, completion/replacement of interior and exterior windows/carpentry, repair of interior installations, etc.

– completion of works on installation and equipment of railway signaling

– completion of construction of railway telecommunication installations and equipment (TTR)

– completion of information installations for travelers (audio and video) at all stations and route stops.