CFR Infrastructura reports that 21 contracts have been signed for the repair of 61 km, with the idea of ​​removing speed limits on the ever-larger sections between Bucharest and Craiova. In few places, train speeds have fallen so much: in 2023, no train will take less than 3 hours 18 minutes to travel 209 km, an hour longer than in 1995.

Railway worksPhoto: CFR Infrastructure

Overall, the average speed of the fastest train is now 63 km/h, compared to 98 km/h in 1995.

20 years ago, the fastest IC trains ran between Craiova and Bucharest on Highway 100 via Rosiori in 2 hours 25 minutes. In 2010, IC trains were almost three hours long.

In the 2022-23 Train Route, the Transcarpathian Astra train will be the fastest, which will run between Craiova and Bucharest in 3 hours and 18 minutes. The slowest train is the Regio, which stops everywhere and takes 5 hours 10 minutes at an average speed of 40 km/h.

What CFR SA says

The national railway company CFR SA announces that the regional branches of CF Bucharest and Craiova have signed 21 contracts for a total amount of 306,056,276.93 lei without VAT for the execution of Quick Wins type works – removal of speed restrictions, restoration of technical parameters of the upper track structure on the BUCHAREST – CRAIOVA line , the work is funded by the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR).

CF CRAIOVA REGIONAL BRANCH and two associations of Romanian companies PROIECT CONSULT (association leader) – SC ROTARY CONSTRUCTII MENTENANțA SA – EURO CONSTRUCT TRADING 98 SRL, respectively SC ROTARY CONSTRUCțII MENTENANțA SA (association leader) – PROIECT CONSULT – EURO CONSTRUCT TRADING 98 SRL signed 17 contracts for the performance of Quick Wins type works on the line CF Olteni – Craiova.

The total value of the 17 works contracts is 239,758,392.08 lei, excluding VAT, and their purpose is to remove speed restrictions to restore the technical parameters of the road superstructure and increase the speed of traffic to 120 km/h (depending on the route configuration), on the following sections with a total length of 51,053 km:

• Lot 1 Olteni – Rădoiesti, km 74+200 – 79+700 (line I)

• Lot 2 Olteni – Rădoiesti, km 74+700 – 84+280 (line I)

• Lot 3 Rădoiesti – Atârnati, km 85+880 – 90+500 (wire I)

• Lot 4 Rădoiesti – Atârnați, km 90+500 – 94+000 (line I)

• Lot 5 Atârnați – Roșiori Nord km 94+000 – 98+000 (wire I)

• Lot 6 Rădoiesti – Atârnați, km 92+033 – 93+932 (wire II)

• Lot 7 Atârnați – Roșiori Nord, km 98+000 – 101+330 (wire I)

• Lot 8 Atârnați – Roșiori Nord, km 98+916 – 101+330 (wire II)

• Lot 9 Rosiori Nord – Măldăieni, km 101+330 – 106+000 (wire I)

• Lot 10 Roșiori Nord – Mihăesti, km 106+000 -109+200 (wire I)

• Lot 11 Mihăesti – Radomirești, km 124+650 – 126+528 (wire I)

• Lot 12 Mihăesti – Radomirești, km 124+650 – 126+528 (wire II)

• Lot 13 Radomirești – Fărcașele, km 146+830 – 148+792 (wire I)

• Lot 14 Radomireşti – Fărcașele, km 146+830 – 148+792 (wire II)

• Lot 15 Dragomirești Olt – Fărcaşele, km 137+760 – 140+760 (wire I)

• Lot 16 Dragomirești Olt – Fărcaşele, km 140+760- 143+280 (wire I)

• Lot 17 Dragomirești Olt – Fărcaşele, km 143+280 – 143+720 (wire I)

CF BUCHAREST REGIONAL BRACH and STRABAG SRL (Austria) signed 4 contracts for the performance of Quick Wins type works on the CF Bucharest – Videle line for the amount of 66,297,884.85 lei without VAT, to remove speed restrictions, to restore the technical parameters of the track superstructure and increase speed of movement up to 120 km/h (depending on the configuration of the track), on sections with a total length of 10 km:

• Lot 4 Chiajna – Grădinari, between km 13+500 – 16+000 (line I+II)

• Lot 5 Chiajna – Grădinari, between km 16+000 – 18+500 (line I+II)

• Lot 6 Chiajna – Grădinari, between km 18+500 – 21+000 (line I+II)

• Lot 7 Chiajna – Grădinari, between km 21+000 – 23+500 (line I+II)

According to 21 contracts, each with a term of 24 months, the contractors will perform QUICK WINS type works on a total length of 61,053 km CF, with new track materials purchased by the builder, works aimed at timely replacement of components of the upper track structure elements – rails, sleepers, tracks devices, rubble – or any other element that will increase the speed of passenger and freight trains.