photo: Alstom/Illustrative photo
Romania’s oldest railway is getting a full, modern refit. Alstom will equip the 93.45 km Bucharest–Giurgiu corridor with ERTMS Level 2 and electrification, lifting speeds to 160 km/h and turning an 1869 line into a reliable, energy-efficient artery for passengers and freight.
Alstom announced a new contract in Romania to modernise the Bucharest North–Jilava–Giurgiu North–Giurgiu border section (Lot 2), within a project total of ~EUR 450 million in which Alstom’s share is ~25%. Arcada leads civil works; CFR SA is the procurer. Design and execution are bundled to reduce interface risk and accelerate delivery, according to Alstom. The aim is to restore a strategic route with higher capacity, better reliability, and lower emissions.
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The RailWorks consortium structure is straightforward: Arcada handles the infrastructure and superstructure, while Alstom provides the digital control and power layers. That division mirrors Alstom’s core role: ERTMS Level 2 deployment plus electrification (power supply and overhead contact line). The contractual framework targets predictable sequencing from design to commissioning.
Scope of Works and Technology Package
The upgrade spans signalling, telecoms, electrification, and civil works across a single-track main line that connects Bucharest to the Bulgarian border. With ERTMS Level 2 and renewed assets, the line is engineered for up to 160 km/h, greater throughput, and more robust punctuality. The package is designed to increase capacity, improve energy efficiency, and lift service reliability on a corridor that matters for both commuters and cargo.
Alstom will deliver the digital train control solution—the heart of ERTMS Level 2—alongside electrification works (traction power and overhead line). That pairing cuts journey-time variability and reduces operating costs. In Alstom’s words, "This new contract consolidates Alstom’s leading position on the Romanian railway market… and will help revitalise a true historical railway milestone," said Gabriel Stanciu, Managing Director for Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.
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Timeline, Delivery, and Performance Targets
The contract has a 36-month implementation term covering design and execution, aligning resources to bring the line to 160 km/h and Level 2 standards within a single programme, as noted by AGERPRES and CFR SA. The bundling is critical: design (front-end) and works (back-end) proceed in a cadence that preserves testing windows and safety approvals.
Performance targets are explicit: higher capacity, better headways, and improved reliability. ERTMS Level 2 replaces trackside signal dependency with continuous cab signalling, cutting reaction times and smoothing flows. According to Alstom, electrification completes the traction gap, enabling through electric haulage and lower emissions on Bucharest’s southern approaches.
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Strategic Role on the Rhine–Danube Corridor
The Bucharest–Giurgiu line connects Romania to the Rhine–Danube Core Network Corridor and to Southeast Europe via the Friendship Bridge over the Danube. By modernising Lot 2 and adding electrification, the project supports cross-border reliability and modal shift to rail, which strengthens flows toward Bulgaria, Greece, and Türkiye.
Those gains matter operationally: fewer speed restrictions, fewer traction changes, and more path density for both passenger and freight trains. CFR SA frames the objectives as shorter travel times, higher safety, and better comfort, while reducing pollutant emissions, as reported by AGERPRES. The result is a cleaner and more competitive southbound gateway for Romania’s network.
Alstom’s ERTMS Footprint and Local Capability
Alstom positions itself as a world leader in ERTMS deployment, supplying over 30% of operational Level 2 lines in Europe. That experience translates into standards-aligned design, interoperability, and safety features that are central to EU rail policy. Bold takeaway: the technology choice reinforces European-scale compatibility from day one.