Metrorex announced that after negotiations with Alstom, the company that provides maintenance for the Bucharest metro, and payment of maintenance bills for 2022, it has been decided to run six additional trains starting on Tuesday. Thus, the interval between trains will be reduced to 9-10 minutes, 40 trains will be introduced throughout the metro network. The measure comes in the context of the metro operating with fewer trains and congestion in recent weeks due to cuts in maintenance and sanitation services provided by Alstom.

Metrorex said on Tuesday that it would “continue to take steps” to unblock metro train services caused by cuts in maintenance and sanitation services provided by Alstom Transport SA, with which Metrorex has a current contract.

Therefore, following discussions with Alstom and payment of some maintenance bills related to 2022, it has been decided to put 6 additional trains into service starting today, according to Metrorex.

In this regard, the train queue interval will be reduced to 9-10 minutes, 40 trains will be introduced throughout the metro network.

In recent weeks, the subway has been operating with a much smaller number of trains, instead of 57, as predicted by the approved schedule. The increase in waiting times at the stations was due to a reduction in maintenance and sanitation services provided by Alstom Transport SA, with which Metrorex has a current contract.

France’s Alstom, which maintains Bucharest’s metro, has announced since June that it is considering phasing out maintenance services for the metro fleet in July if Metrorex fails to pay unpaid bills totaling the equivalent of one year’s worth of services. In an interview given to News.ro, Alstom Europe President Gian Luca Erbacci said that Metrorex owes Alstom more than 33 million euros, which is more than 160 million lei, which corresponds to a year’s overdue payment.

Metrorex has responded to Alstom’s allegations of service arrears, saying part of the amount has been paid and the full payment will be claimed at the next budget update, expected in August.