The railway traffic between Cluj and Oradea is closed due to large-scale modernization and electrification works, which are likely to be completed in 2027 and will cost more than 9 billion lei. Trains will take 2 hours 14 minutes between Cluj and the Hungarian border, compared to approximately 3 hours before construction began. What happens at each site?

The first line that was electrified after 1990

The speed of the train on the section Cluj-Napoca – Oradea – Bishopric of Bihor before the start of the works was 65-85 km/h on most of the route. Once the works are complete, the maximum speed will increase to 120 km/h – 160 km/h and the travel time between Cluj-Napoca and Episkopi Bihor will be 2 hours 14 minutes for the IR and RE train. The distance between Cluj-Napoca and Oradea is approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, according to CFR Infrastructura.

The two hours and 14 minutes also include a stop in Orade, where trains stop for about 10-15 minutes. The distance is 166 km.

The total cost of the investment is 7.66 billion lei without VAT (9.11 billion lei with VAT), and the completion of the four contracts is calculated for the period 2026/2027 (36 months from the date of approval of the technical project).

The CF Cluj Napoca – Oradea – Episcopia Bihor – Frontieră line will be the first railway line modernized and electrified after 1990 with European money.

The rehabilitation and electrification works of the railway line from Cluj to Frontier are mainly carried out on the current route, but to achieve a maximum speed of 160 km/h for as long as possible, including works to increase the radii, designed curves, 7.5 km long, to redirect the Crișul Repede river, and to double the CF line for a length of approximately 14.8 km, between Telechiu and Oșorhei.

Cluj – Diocese of Bihor – What is happening on four lots

Reconstruction and electrification of the railway line Cluj-Napoca – Oradea – Bishopric of Bihor, including the doubling of the line on a length of approximately 14.8 km, structured in the following 4 geographically separated sections:

Lot 1 Cluj-Napoca – Aguirres (30.41 km)

Lot 2 Aguirres – Poeni (36.53 km)

Lot 3 Poieni – Alesd (52.74 km)

Lot 4 Alesd – border with Hungary (46.74 km)

Building permits have been issued for three of the four lots (Lots 1, 2 and 3), and permit documentation has been submitted for Lot 4. Construction sites are now open on lots 1 and 2, from Cluj-Napoca to Poeni.

If Lot 2 Aguirres – Pojeni is undergoing a railway modernization with complete closure of rail traffic from January 2024 and overloading of wagons provided by rail passenger transport operators, on Lot 1 from June trains will run between Cluj-Napoca and Aguirres only on line II to to provide the designer with a working front on line I Cluj Napoca Est – Cluj Napoca – Baciu Triaj – Mera – Nădăşel – Aghireș, including on some lines from Cluj-Napoca and Aghireș stations, respectively Haltele Mera and Baciu Triage.

For all four contracts, CFR SA in January 2023 issued an order to start the first stage, namely: the development of a technical project, a stage that requires the developer to obtain all approvals and consents from local and central authorities, documents on the basis of which in the period from October 2023 to February 2024, construction permits (Phase I) were issued to start work on 3 out of 4 lots.

All 43 stations, stops and stopping points on the route will be modernized, waiting rooms will appear, and the platforms will be rebuilt according to European standards in terms of length, width and height. Benches, lighting poles and information boards will be installed.

Lot 1 Cluj-Napoca – Aguirres (30.41 km)

• construction permit issued in December 2023 (with the exception of Aghireș STE and Tăietura Turcului overpass, for which the expropriation procedure of some additional land plots must be initiated)

• the technical project was approved in February 2024;

• opening of the site in March 2024 – dismantling of the contact line of St. CF Cluj Napoca (lines 4,5,6 and 7) and between Baciu Triaj and Cluj Napoca for 2 km, dismantled railway between Mera – Baciu Triaj and lines 1,2,3,15 and 17 from Aghireș station

Lot 2 Aguirres – Poeni (36.53 km)

• the construction permit was issued in October 2023

• the technical project was approved in November 2023

• construction site opening in January 2024 – superstructure works at all stations and on the current line, construction of new platforms started at Hm Brăișoru, PO Bologa and at Poieni station, foundation for bridges/bridges between Brăișoru and Poieni done, embankments/track platform at interval Huedin – Brysoru – Poeni

Lot 3 Poieni – Alesd (52.74 km)

• construction permit issued in February 2024 for the 1st stage km 605+700 – km 620+430

Lot 4 Alesd – border with Hungary (46.74 km)

• technical documentation submitted for the issuance of a construction permit – February 2024