​The Ministry of Transport has changed the indicators for the modernization of the railway line Craiova – Karansebesh, as a result of which the cost is more than 7 billion lei higher than the one for which tenders were launched earlier, which were canceled due to the lack of bidders, writes Railway Club. At this distance, trains move at an average speed of 50 km/h.

The estimated total cost is more than 20 billion lei.

The distance between the two cities on line 100 is almost 230 km, but due to speed limits and the poor condition of the line, the trip takes more than 4 and a half hours. There are nine passenger trains daily, the slowest takes 4 hours and 43 minutes.

The line is in an unsatisfactory condition, most of the structures are close to the limit of their technical resource.

The draft Government Resolution on updating the technical and economic indicators of the investment target “Reconstruction of the railway line Craiova-Drobeta-Turnu-Severin-Karansebesh, part of the Eastern-Mediterranean corridor” was published on the website of the Ministry of Transport. It was posted on the website of the Ministry of Transport for public discussion. , the work of a utility enterprise of national interest”.

The feasibility study carried out by the association Italfer – Italrom – ISPCF analyzes the existing railway route, which starts from the Craiova station at km 248 + 760 and ends before the entrance to the Caransebes station at km 474 + 925. The total length of the railway track within the scope of this study is 226 km, being an electrified line for the entire distance, a double electrified line Craiova – Strehajja (60 km) and a single electrified line Strehajja – Karancebes (174 km).

Taking into account the cost of the works, the length of the route and the complexity of the works, a decision was made to divide the project and implement it into six lots with a length of 32 to 47 km.

The Italfer – Italrom – ISPCF Association submitted the updated general budget for the general investment objective as well as the budgets related to the six lots on November 6, 2023.

The technical solutions have changed from those established during the feasibility study phase, with minor adaptations made to some aspects of the project.

There have been a number of price changes. In the first option, the price without VAT was 10,506,354,835.57 lei, and with VAT 12,494,571,116.29 lei.

The updated value without VAT is 16,900,515,932.00 lei, and with VAT 20,102,855,687.00 lei, i.e. approximately four billion euros. Currently, construction and installation works are estimated at 16,981,688,420.17 lei (3.4 billion euros).